The construction of Ngagyur Nyingma Palyul Dhongag Chholing Monastery in Likhu Pike Rural Municipality, Nepal’s Solukhumbu district, commenced on Tuesday. The Indian Embassy disclosed that the Indian government is providing financial aid of approximately NPR 33 million for this project under the High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP) initiative. This initiative, the sixth of its kind in Solukhumbu district, is being executed through Likhu Pike Rural Municipality.
Local stakeholders, including Likhu Pike Rural Municipality Chairperson Mina Karki Basnet and Ajay Kumar Singh from the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, laid the foundation stone for the monastery. They lauded India’s consistent development support and expressed optimism that the new infrastructure would safeguard the region’s cultural and religious legacy. The project signifies the robust development collaboration between Nepal and India, aiming to fortify local infrastructure and bolster the Nepalese government’s growth initiatives in vital sectors.
India’s High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) in Nepal encompass various domains like education, health, culture, water supply, roads, and community facilities, aligning with its development partnership with Nepal. Launched in 2003, the HICDP program is a pivotal element of the India-Nepal development alliance, emphasizing grassroots development through local bodies. The program targets key sectors outlined by the Nepalese government, including health, education, water supply, sanitation, electrification, and infrastructure enhancement.
In Nepal, India has undertaken 598 HICDPs with an overall investment of about NPR 15.83 billion, with a significant focus on the education sector, including the construction of numerous school buildings. The collaboration between India and Nepal was further solidified in January 2024 with a revised agreement, elevating the maximum financial aid for each HICDP project from NPR 50 million to NPR 200 million.
