Kathmandu, Nov. 7: As part of the commemorating 20 years of successful implementation of the High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) in Nepal, through grant assistance of Government of India, the Embassy of India formally handed over the Mangaladevi Birthing (Maternity) Centre at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu to the Hospital representatives. 

The project was jointly handed over by Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat, Finance Minister,  Anita Devi, Minster for Federal Affairs & General Administration, and H.E. Naveen Srivastava, Ambassador of India to Nepal. Political representatives, officials of Nepal Government, social workers and local community leaders were also present at the event.  Further, agreements for 3 more HICDP projects being undertaken in Nepal under Indian grant assistance at total estimated cost of NR.130 million in the Baitadi and Mustang districts were also signed on the occasion. 

Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital is one of the most prestigious medical institutions in Nepal. Mangaladevi Birthing Centre at TUTH has been built with Government of India’s financial assistance of Nrs. 44.04 Million as an HICDP under Nepal-India Development Cooperation framework. In addition, 2 sets of 40 KVA Diesel Generators, 5 Buses and 2 Ambulances have been provided to different departments, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, for this hospital in which 1 Ambulance is fully equipped with Advance Life Support. TUTH representatives informed that this birthing center is being managed by nurses and could function as the model birthing center for implementation in other regions across Nepal, which could result in reduced maternal mortality rates. 

HICDPs, earlier known as Small Development Projects, were launched on 7th November 2003 through bilateral agreement between Government of Nepal and Government of India regarding India’s Grant Assistance for Implementation of Small Development Projects through Nepali entities working at local level. There projects are an innovative and important segment of the Development Partnership with Nepal and are being implemented in the priority sectors of the Government of Nepal for creating infrastructure to enhance the quality of life at the grassroots level for the people of Nepal. 

Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Srivastava highlighted that this journey of implementation of HICDP projects over the past 20 years has been very successful. He expressed satisfaction that since 2003, nearly 550 projects have been taken up under this framework in various sectors including Education, Health, Road & Bridges, River Training, Drinking Water, Electrification, Irrigation, Culture, Social Welfare etc, which have impacted people’s lives directly. Of these, 480 projects have been completed and remaining are ongoing. This success translates into over 27 projects every year or simply more than 1 new project being implemented every fortnight in Nepal under Nepal-India Development Cooperation over last 20 years. Ambassador thanked Government of Nepal for its support in this regard, and committed to further enhance and strengthen the implementation of HICDPs in future. These HICDPs have been diverse in sector and geographical spread. It covers all the provinces of Nepal. 84 Projects have been undertaken in Koshi Province, 81 projects in Madhesh Province, 105 projects have been undertaken in Bagmanti Province,  61 Projects in Gandaki Province, 60 projects have been undertaken in Lumbini Province, 14 in Karnali Province and 41 in Sudurpaschim Province. These are apart from 107 projects that spread in more than one province.

Finance Minister Mahat thanked India for its continuous support in the creation of development infrastructure in Nepal. He highlighted that HICDP projects are the cornerstone of the development partnership between India and Nepal. He assured Government of Nepal full support in implementation of such projects which impact the livelihood of common Nepali people. Minister Anita Devi highlighted that the key aspects of such projects is their quick gestation period and role that they play in economic development at the local level. She thanked Government of India for its support. She highlighted that HICDPs, despite being small in size, create big impact in lives of the common Nepali people and therefore have been appropriately described as Highly Impactful in bringing changes in community.

Further, Government of India has also gifted Ambulances and School Buses every year to various institutions working in the health and education sectors in Nepal on the occasion of Independence Day and Republic Day of India. So far, 974 ambulances and 234 school buses has been gifted to beneficiaries in different parts of Nepal which translate into 1 ambulance being gifted every week and 1 school bus every month. These services are placed to be part of the first line of treatment and contribute significantly to the health care and education sector. This initiative is connecting with grass-root people even in the remotest parts of Nepal. 

The short video depicting the journey of HICDP implementation over the last 20 years was also released at the event.