Kathmandu, June 12: The Embassy of India laid Foundation Stone for the construction of the Nepal-Bharat Maitri Hospital Building in Chankheli Rural Municipality-2 of Humla District in Karnali Province on Thursday. 

The Embassy stated that the hospital building is being built with Government of India’s financial assistance of Nepali Rs. 148 million approximately. This High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP) will be implemented through the Chankheli Rural Municipality in Humla. 

In a video message, Naveen Srivastava, Ambassador of India to Nepal, extended his best wishes to all stakeholders of the project. He reiterated the Government of India’s steadfast commitment to working closely with the people and Government of Nepal to achieve shared growth and prosperity.

Since the inception of the HICDP programme, the Embassy emphasized that close to 600 projects have been undertaken across all seven provinces of Nepal, covering about 74 districts. The Nepal-Bharat Maitri Hospital Building Project is the third HICDP project in Humla. Previously, the Government of India had provided grant assistance for the construction of a library building within the premises of Shree Saraswati Madhyamik Vidyalaya in Sarkegad, and for the construction of a laboratory and library building at Shree Mahadev Higher Secondary School in Chankheli-Darma.

The Government of India also organized a study tour to India for a 10-member delegation comprising elected representatives from the rural municipalities of Chankheli, Sarkegad, and Simikot in Humla district back in July 2024. 

The Embassy reiterated that as close neighbours, India and Nepal are engaged in wide-ranging and multi-sectoral cooperation. The implementation of HICDPs reflects the continued support of the Government of India in strengthening the efforts of the Government of Nepal in promoting growth and development, apart from augmenting infrastructure in priority sectors.