The devastating earthquake of 2015 reduced thousands of schools in Nepal to ruins (File)
Kathmandu:
India will rebuild a total of 56 upper secondary schools in seven districts of Nepal as part of post-earthquake reconstruction in the Himalayan nation with a grant of 2.95 billion Nepalese rupees.
“The Embassy of India and the Central Project Implementation Unit (CLPIU) of the Nepalese Ministry of Education have signed seven memoranda of understanding to rebuild 56 upper secondary schools located in Gorkha, Nuwakot , Dhading, Dolakha, Kavrepalanchowk, Ramechhap and Sindhupalchok districts of Nepal, “said the Indian Mission in Kathmandu in a statement.
The devastating earthquake of 2015 reduced thousands of schools in Nepal to ruins, and Gorkha, Nuwakot, Dhading, Dolakha, Kavrepalanchowk, Ramechhap and Sindhupalchowk were among the hardest hit districts in the Himalayan nation.
Schools will now be earthquake-resistant and equipped with additional facilities.
“These schools will be rebuilt in accordance with Nepalese government standards for earthquake-resilient reconstruction. The school infrastructure will consist of school blocks, classrooms, and separate furniture and sanitation for boys and children. girls, “the statement said.
The Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee, a leading institute in India for earthquake-resilient reconstruction, will provide technical assistance for the reconstruction of these schools.
“The Indian government remains committed to continuing to work with the government of Nepal and its agencies for the socio-economic development of Nepal, including the post-earthquake reconstruction projects in Nepal,” said the statement.
Besides rebuilding schools, the Indian government has also reached out to rebuild houses in Gorkha and Nuwakot.
The Indian government supported the construction of 50,000 houses in Gorkha (26,912 beneficiaries) and Nuwakot (23,088 beneficiaries). New Delhi appointed UNDP and UNOPS as socio-technical facilitation consultants for these two districts, respectively in March 2018.
The reconstruction campaign launched by the Indian government with the consultation of the UNDP in the district of Gorkha made the beneficiaries smile here.
The Indian government has committed $ 1 billion to rebuild Nepal in the form of a grant and line of credit. Of this amount, US $ 150 million has been allocated for reconstruction in the housing sector, US $ 100 million in the form of grants and US $ 50 million is to be drawn from a line of credit.
