Kathmandu, June 8, 2025 — In a significant boost to educational infrastructure in Upper Mustang, Nepal, the foundation stone for a new hostel building and canteen block at Shree Dibya Deep Secondary School in Lomanthang Rural Municipality was laid today. The ceremony was jointly led by Shri Prasanna Shrivastava, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of India in Kathmandu, and Mr. Tasi Nharbu Gurung, Chairman of Lomanthang Rural Municipality.

The construction project is being undertaken with the financial assistance of the Government of India under the ‘Nepal-India Development Cooperation’ initiative at a cost of NPR 37.60 million. The upcoming infrastructure will include a hostel with toilet and bathroom facilities, a kitchen block with a dining hall, rest rooms, and other essential amenities. This initiative is part of a High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP) and is being implemented by the local municipality.

Shree Dibya Deep Secondary School is the only high school serving the remote Upper Mustang region, including students from Loghekar Damodar Kunda and Lomanthang rural municipalities. The new facilities aim to enhance the school’s capacity to provide quality education in a more comfortable and conducive learning environment.

Since 2003, India has supported 573 HICDPs across Nepal in key sectors such as education, health, transportation, agriculture, and social welfare. Of these, 59 projects have been implemented in Gandaki Province, including 17 in Mustang district. India has also gifted 1009 ambulances and 300 school buses across Nepal to date, with 119 ambulances and 40 school buses provided in Gandaki Province, further strengthening access to healthcare and education.

Deputy Chief of Mission Shri Shrivastava highlighted the robust and evolving India-Nepal development partnership, reaffirming India’s commitment to working with Nepal based on the country’s development priorities.

Local officials, school representatives, and community members expressed gratitude to the Government of India for its continued support and emphasized the positive impact this infrastructure will have on the students of the region.

During his visit to Mustang, Shri Shrivastava also inspected the ongoing construction of a dormitory building at the Lowo Nyiphug Namdrol Norbuling Monastic School, another HICDP project supported by India, with a project cost of NPR 41.40 million.

This collaboration underscores the strong bilateral relationship between India and Nepal and reflects India’s enduring commitment to Nepal’s socio-economic development through impactful grassroots-level projects.