Construction of a new school building in Shailyashikhar Municipality of Darchula district commenced officially on Monday with the laying of its foundation stone under an India-funded development scheme, as announced by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.
Basist Nandan, First Secretary at the Embassy of India in Kathmandu, and Bijay Singh Dhami, Mayor of Shailyashikhar Municipality, jointly initiated the construction by laying the foundation stone for the building of Shree Gokuleshwor Secondary School.
The school building, supported by approximately NPR 75 million from the Government of India under its High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP) program, will be executed through Shailyashikhar Municipality.
Mayor Dhami and other local stakeholders, speaking at the event, acknowledged India’s ongoing assistance to Nepal’s development. They expressed optimism that the new school infrastructure would enhance the educational environment and facilities for students and teachers in the municipality.
India and Nepal have been collaborating on community development projects in various sectors, including education, health, and public infrastructure, as part of their bilateral development cooperation.
The High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP) program, a significant element of Nepal-India development cooperation, aims to bolster local infrastructure and enhance public services in communities nationwide.
Launched in 2003, the HICDP program, previously known as Small Development Projects, supports small-scale infrastructure and community-based initiatives through local authorities, focusing on priority sectors identified by the Government of Nepal, such as health, education, water supply, sanitation, electrification, hydropower, and river management.
Since its inception, the HICDP program has overseen nearly 600 projects across all seven provinces and 74 districts of Nepal, demonstrating India’s commitment to Nepal’s development goals.
