Kathmandu, Dec. 21: Foundation stone was laid on Wednesday by Purna Bahadur Tamang,  Member of  Parliament, House of Representatives, Ramechhap; Labashree Neupane, Mayor, Ramechhap Municipality and Prashant Kumar Sona, Second Secretary, Embassy of India, Kathmandu for the construction of Malagiri Shanti Yogashram in Ramechhap Municipality, Ramechhap District, being built with Government of India’s financial assistance at the approved cost of NRs.4.45 crore under ‘Nepal-India Development Cooperation’. Public representatives, government officials, social workers, representatives of the Malagiri Vikas Kendra and local community were also present on this occasion. 

The Government of India grant under ‘Nepal-India Development Cooperation’ will be utilized for the construction of double storied building comprising 32 rooms for trainees, guests, students and Yoga trainers in addition to 3 room office building, one training and multipurpose hall, toilets, garden, compound wall and other infrastructure facilities for this Yogashram. The project is being undertaken as a High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP), earlier known as Small Development Projects, under an agreement between the Government of India and the Government of Nepal. This project is being implemented through the Ramechhap Municipality. 

Speaking at the event, Shri Purna Bahadur Tamang, Member of  Parliament, House of Representatives, Ramechhap and Labashree Neupane, Mayor, Ramechhap Municipality appreciated the continued developmental support of the Government of India in upliftment of the people of Nepal in its priority sectors.

Prashant Kumar Sona, Second Secretary highlighted that the  project is  an important part of the very robust development partnership between India and Nepal, which has made significant progress in the recent years, spanning various priority sectors of the Government of Nepal and its people. He expressed continued commitment of the Government of India for bolstering this development partnership as per the priorities of Government of Nepal, for the mutual benefit of the peoples of both countries. He also highlighted the successful completion of 20 years of HICDPs implementation in Nepal last month.

 As the ceremony, the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre of the Embassy of India, Kathmandu and Malagiri Vikas Kendra, Ramechhap also presented  Yoga demonstration which showcased the deep  a cultural linkages between India and Nepal.

 Yoga is uniting the world in pursuit of good health and wellness of the people. Once the construction of Yogashram is completed, the infrastructure will provide better opportunity to local community in promotion and practice of Yoga.

Since 2003, India has taken up over 550 High Impact Community Development Projects in Nepal on various sectors in which 106 projects have been undertaken in Bagmati Province including 3 projects in Ramechhap District.  In addition to these, Government of India has gifted 974 ambulances and 234 school buses to various hospitals, health posts and educational institutions in Nepal on the occasion of Independence Day and Republic Day of India. Amongst these, 232 Ambulances and  90 Schools Buses in Bagmati Province which includes 11 Ambulances and 1 School Bus provided in Ramechhap District. 

As close neighbours, India and Nepal share wide-ranging and multi-sectoral cooperation. The implementation of the HICDPs reflects the continued support of the Government of India in bolstering the efforts of the Government of Nepal in upliftment of its people, augmenting infrastructure in the field of priority sectors, especially in the health sector, in Nepal.