Kathmandu, July 16: Embassy of India, Kathmandu, today gifted 34 ambulances and 50 school buses to various organizations working in the fields of health and education respectively, spread across various districts of Nepal. The keys of vehicles were handed over by Ambassador Naveen Srivastava in the presence of Ashok Kumar Rai, Minister of Education, Science & Technology, Government of Nepal. Mayors; Chairman of Municipalities / Rural Municipalities of various districts; Representatives of various beneficiaries organizations; Other political representatives, officials of Nepal Government, Social Workers etc. were also present in the event.

    Government of India has been gifting ambulances and school buses on the occasion of Independence Day and Republic Day of India every year since 1994 to various beneficiary organizations in different parts of Nepal, considering the high priority of Nepal's health and education sectors. 

    In his remarks during the event, Ambassador stated that this has been one of the long-standing traditions of Government of India under the Nepal-India Development Partnership Programme to bolster the efforts of Government of Nepal to strengthen its infrastructure in health and education sectors. He also highlighted that this is part of very robust and strong development partnership between India and Nepal, which has a long history and legacy, and has geographical spread throughout Nepal, touching people's lives and bringing out a tangible progress in the development journey of Nepal.

   Minister Ashok Kumar Rai, in his remarks, appreciated Government of India’s various ongoing developmental projects in Nepal and expressed that these will continue to strengthen people-to-people connectivity and the bilateral relations between the two countries. He lauded the support of Government of India for reaching out and supporting the schools and health facilities across Nepal covering Himal to Terai.

   Since 1994, 974 Ambulances and 234 School buses have been gifted across Nepal, including those gifted today to various beneficiary organizations spread across various districts Nepal, till date. It is part of Government of India’s continued support for the efforts of Nepal to strengthen health and education facilities and also facilitating in easy physical access to these services.