Nepal announces Rs 5 bn development plan for protest-hit Terai

Seeking to win over the agitating Madhesis, the Nepal Government has unveiled a nearly Rs 5 billion plan for the development of over 100 remote villages in Terai region bordering India which has been badly hit by the protests over the new Constitution.
The Rs 4.92 billion five-year programme, scheduled for a formal inauguration in Mohottari district tomorrow, will run till fiscal year 2019-20 to develop physical and social infrastructure in the region.
"The programme is meant for areas that have fallen behind in Human Development Index," Joint Secretary at the Ministry Dhan Bahadur Shrestha was quoted as saying by the Kathmandu Post.

A budget of Rs 164 million has been allocated for the programme this fiscal year, he said.
The Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development said the Border Area Development Programme (BADP) will be implemented in 107 village development committees and seven municipalities in eight Terai districts.
The BADP will be implemented in Parsa, Bara, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Mahottari, Dhanusha, Siraha and Saptari districts --- the heartland of the ongoing Madhesi agitation.

The programme will focus on areas of local road networks, small-scale irrigation, agriculture, drinking water, sanitation, community infrastructure, environment conservation, energy, schools, sub-health posts, toilets, skill development and social awareness.

The region has been lagging behind in life expectancy, literacy and per capita income values compared to other areas of the country.
The Human Development Index of the eight districts is below the national average 0.540, with the index of some even falling under 0.400, the daily said.
The announcement of the package is seen as a government's plan to win over the Madhesi community to make them withdraw their months-long protests over the Constitution, the daily said.
Nepal is facing acute shortage of cooking gas, petroleum products, medicines and other essentials due to blockade imposed on the southern border of the country as a result of the protests by Madhesis, largely of Indian-origin.

Madhesis, who share strong cultural and family bonds with Indians, demand demarcation of provinces, fixing of electoral constituencies on the basis of population and proportional representation. So far, more than 50 people have died in the agitation.