Kathmandu, Mar. 26: The foundation stone for the construction of Shree Janata Secondary School in Surunga Municipality, Saptari was laid today. The ceremony was jointly conducted by Mr. Teju Lal Chaudhary, Nepal’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Ms. Gita Chaudhary, Mayor of Surunga Municipality, and Ms. Garima Nautiyal, Second Secretary at the Embassy of India in Kathmandu. The event was attended by political representatives, government officials, social workers, teachers, students, and their parents.

Under the Nepal-India Development Cooperation, the Government of India is funding the construction of a three-story school building and allied facilities at a cost of NRs. 27.60 million. This initiative is classified as a High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP) and is being executed through Surunga Municipality.

Established in 1951, Shree Janata Secondary School currently serves around 600 students, with 60% of them being girls. Officials expressed confidence that the new infrastructure will significantly enhance the learning environment and contribute to the development of the region’s education sector.

Since 2003, India has undertaken over 563 HICDPs in Nepal, successfully completing 495 projects. In Madhesh Province alone, 82 projects have been implemented, including 9 in Saptari. Furthermore, India has donated 1009 ambulances and 300 school buses to various institutions in Nepal, with 225 ambulances and 34 school buses provided in Madhesh Province, including 24 ambulances and 2 school buses in Saptari.

The India-Nepal partnership continues to strengthen through multi-sectoral cooperation. The implementation of these projects reflects India’s commitment to supporting Nepal’s infrastructure development in priority sectors, fostering growth, and improving the quality of life for its people.