KATHMANDU, April 2: United Kingdom´s International Development Minister Mike Foster said Thursday that the UK government will support integration package for rehabilitation of the Maoist combatants into Nepali society [break]
"If the government of Nepal offers such a package for integration and rehabilitation of the Maoist combatants, we will support it fully," he said, addressing a press conference before leaving for his country in Kathmandu.
Dashain aayo (again)
Foster was here on a three-day fact-finding visit. He met with Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala, acting Prime Minister and Home Minister Bamdev Gautam and Minister for Environment and Science and Technolopgy Ganesh Shah earlier Thursday.
During his stay, Foster also met with Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav, Health and Population Minister Giriraj Mani Pokharel and CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal.
UK announces three-year aid package of Rs 20.24 billion
Launching a three-year country business plan in Kathmandu, Minister Foster outlined an aid package amounting to approximately Rs 20.24 billion to be spent in Nepal in the next three fiscal years.
The aid will be spent on supporting the peace process, building better governance, providing basic services, growth and jobs, and climate change. This represents an increase of 46 per cent from the previous three-year plan.
Some £172m will be spent on the country business plan and an additional £4m funding will go to the World Food Program.
Speaking at the launch, Foster said, "Nepal has made major strides forward in recent years, and we have been proud to help. However, there is still much to do to protect the fragile peace process and help restore, rebuild and renew the country after conflict."
Announcing the additional fund to help 285,000 people affected by drought and conflict in remote western hills of Nepal, he said, "Our additional £4m will provide food that the people need in return for work building vital infrastructure, such as life saving health posts and water supplies or new schools."
DFID´s (Department for International Development) new business plan in Nepal will support the peace process by supporting the constitution writing process, helping to compensating victims of violence or displacement, and supporting ex-combatants.
It will provide growth and jobs by building 800km of new roads to connect 2.4m people. Some 88,000 new jobs will be created through skills and training schemes, particularly amongst women. It will help government to improve investment climate, stimulate the economy and help the private sector create more jobs.
In the health sector, the support targets saving an estimated 2600 mother´s lives and 30,000 newborn through maternal health schemes, immunize 120,000 children and ensure 260,000 births are managed by skilled attendants. In education, 400 classrooms will be built with 7,000 additional children enrolled and 225,000 text books delivered to them.
It will tackle climate change by promoting climate change adaptation and continuing the community forestry program, which is set to lift 50,000 people out of poverty and attract £15m carbon finance
It is also aimed at improving governance and promoting the private sector by working with the CA members to improve public financial management and accountability and strengthen the financial sector to promote more investment.
