Aid to Nepal not reduced, says India

Kathmandu, May 13: The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu on Friday said there has been no aid cut to Nepal.

India is the largest bilateral donor to Nepal for long, Nepali officials said.

Responding to media reports that India has cut aid to Nepal, the embassy clarified: “It may further be reiterated that there is no aid cut in the case of Nepal.”

According to data provided by the embassy, the Indian aid flow to Nepal is routed through many channels and is in many forms.

The actual fund flow to Nepal from India’s Ministry of Exterl Affair’s Aid-to-Nepal budget in 2014-15 was (Indian) Rs.300 crore, or over $50 million. While a good part of this aid is routed through the Nepali fince ministry, a lot of such aid is given directly to the beneficiaries. Such assistance includes granting of scholarships, and creating medical infrastructure, etc, it said.

Though some media reports claimed that Chi is ahead of India in terms of foreign aid, Nepali officials said that India is the largest bilateral donor to Nepal since long.

According to the Indian embassy statement: “Our aid in 2014-15, and in other years, normally includes nearly 3,000 scholarships to Nepalese students annually at a cost of IRs.50 crore; bilaterally committed free electricity supply and trainings for over 400 Nepalese persons from security, economic and other organizations accounting for IRs.50 crore; about 20 Small Development Projects, gifting of buses/ambulances (over 600 have been gifted so far), over 1,000 shallow tube wells and supply of iodized salt for IRs.50 crore.”

Besides, the Indian aid also contributed to “construction of river training embankments for IRs.40 crore. (IANS)