Notwithstanding the current chill in bilateral ties, India on Thursday said it was fully committed to Nepal’s socio-economic development and there was no reduction in aid extended by it to the Himalayan nation.
The statement comes in the backdrop of reports that China has overtaken India as the top donor country to Nepal.
“I think this comparison is completely wrong. I have also seen these reports which say that India’s aid to Nepal is $22.227 million. This is a misleading figure, which totally distorts the picture. Actual funds released to assist Nepal from MEA’s ‘Aid-to-Nepal budget’ are in the range of Rs 300 to 400 crore annually, or over $50 to 70 million,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in the national Capital.
The discrepancy could be because a good part of our aid is not necessarily routed through the Nepalese treasury. Giving details of the assistance provided to Nepal in various sectors, he said that major payments included about 3000 scholarships to Nepalese students annually and training for over 700 Nepalese citizens from security, economic and other organisations accounting for about Rs 75 crore.