HEADLINE NEWS THE RISING NEPAL (DAILY)

Japanese assistance to FAN, Kavrepalanchok DDC

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Aug. 21: The Embassy of Japan in Nepal has decided to extend grant assistance to the Fire Fighters Volunteer Association of Nepal (FAN) for the implementation of the 'Project for the Supply of Equipment for Fire Fighting and Ambulance Service in the municipalities and Village Development Committees (VDCs) of Sunsari, Moarng and Kavrepalanchok districts during Japan's 'FY 2001 under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects (GGP) scheme of the Government of Japan, says a press release issued by the Embassy of Japan here today.

A grant contract to this effect was signed here by Mitsuaki Kojima, Ambassador of Japan in Nepal, and Kewal Kumar Chapagain, President of the FAN.

Under the Project, Dharan and Itahari municipalities in Sunsari district will each be provided with one ambulance vehicle and one fire fighting engine, and Belbari VDC in Morang district and Panchkhal VDC in Kavrepalanchok district will each be provided with one ambulance vehicle. These fire engines and ambulances are used ones and are donated from local governments in Japan. The Government of Japan is providing support for the transportation of these vehicles from Japan to Nepal.

The Embassy of Japan is providing US$ 49,401 to implement the Project. The FAN, the municipalities and the VDCs will bear the operating and maintenance costs of the Project. Each year, the municipalities and VDCs in Sunsari, Morand and Kavrepalanchok districts receive numerous requests for fire fighting and ambulance services. Outbreak of fire is especially common in those districts during the dry season. However, as available emergency equipment has been limited, people in those municipalities as well as in outlying VDCs have had to wait for hours for fire fighting or ambulance services in the event of emergencies. This has caused huge losses of lives and property each year.

Implementation of the Project will provide the people in these three districts with timely transportation services to hospitals and with fire fighting services during emergencies.

The Project is also expected to lessen pressure on the existing equipment in the municipalities, thus providing additional service in those VDCs where ambulance and fire fighting services have not been readily available. The Project is expected to improve the welfare of the people in those districts by helping them overcome unforeseen disasters.

Similarly, the Embassy of Japan has decided to extend grant assistance to the District Development Committee of Kavrepalanchok (DDC) for the construction of Mangal Jan Bijaya High School at Mangaltar in Japan's FY 2001 under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects (GGP) Scheme of the Government of Japan.

A grant contract to this effect was signed and exchanged here today between Mitsuaki Kojima, Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of Nepal, and Krishna Prasad Sapkota, Chairman of Kavre DDC.

Mangal Jan Bijaya High School is located in Mangaltar VDC, about 75 km. from Kathmandu. The school provides education to about 1300 students from Class one through Class ten who live in seven nearby VDCs, and benefits about 1800 households. At present, inadequate classrooms, poor physical facilities and a generally poor learning environment are hindering the provision of quality education to the students, who will bear the responsibilities of developing their communities in the future.

Considering these facts, the embassy has decided to extend grant assistance of US$51,483 for the construction of a school building with well-equipped physical facilities in order to provide a better learning environment for the students. The new school building will have 18 classrooms, including library and laboratory, as well as a sufficient number of toilets.

The total estimated cost of the Project is about US $68,600. Of this about one million, two hundred and seventy-eight thousand, five hundred Nepalese rupees (NRs 1,278,500) will be borne jointly by the local communities, Kavre DDC and local authorities of the seven VDCs. Kavre DDC will also provide the technical and managerial support for the successful implementation of the Project.

The Embassy of Japan places great importance on public well-being through active participation and self-help efforts of local communities. This Project is a noteworthy example of self-help activities, in which communities take on the responsibilitiy of assuring a bright future for their children.

Kojima expressed his gratefulness at extending this grant assistance with the participation of the people of the local community in order to provide better facilities to the students of this remote area. He also expressed his belief that awareness and active participation of the communities in the development efforts are the key factor in their own community development, thus to make at successful and sustainable. Furthermore, he said, this Project will prove itself to be yet another step in strengthening the existing friendly relationship between the people of Japan and Nepal.

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