Indian Embassy in collaboration with Indian Culture Centre organized a joint celebration of Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Day and Maulana Azad Day on December 22.

Minister of Education Giriraj Mani Pokharel was the Chief Guest and  Minister of Health  and Population Ram Janam Chaudhary was the Guest of Honor at the event.  The program was attended by dignitaries, senior bureaucrats from Government of Nepal, ITEC alumni of Indian educational institutions, media and prominent Nepali and Indian citizens.  Artistes of ICC gave an endearing cultural performance on the occasion.

Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation program popularly known as ‘ITEC’ was launched in 1964 as a bilateral program of assistance of the Government of India.  Under ITEC, its corollary SCAAP (Special Commonwealth Assistance for Africa Program, & TCS of Colombo Plan, 156 countries in Asia, East Europe, Central Asia, Africa and Latin America are invited to share in the Indian developmental experience acquired over six decades of India’s existence as a free nation.

The first batch of 12 Nepalese ITEC participants went to India in the year 2000.  Over the years, the number of seats allocated to Nepal under ITEC/Colombo plan program, has increased from 12 in 2000 to 250  in 2015. 

Candidates from Nepal Government of Nepal as well as from private and public sectors have been trained under ITEC program in reputed institutions in India in the field of computers, engineering, journalism, banking, legislation, power, remote sensing, manpower research, education, empowerment of  women, hydrology, law enforcement, business planning and promotion, accounts and finance etc.  From the year 2000 till date,  around 1000 participants from Nepal have benefited from attending mid-career short-term professional training courses in India.

ITEC is about cooperation and partnership for mutual benefit.  It is response-oriented and it addresses the needs of developing countries.  India has always been willing to share its skills and experience with fellow developing countries.  India spends more than Indian Rupees 500 million annually on ITEC activities. 

Over the years, India-Nepal cooperation has made major contribution towards human resource development in Nepal.  Presently, Government of India is extending more than 3000 scholarships annually to Nepalese students in a wide spectrum of courses inclusive of Engineering, agriculture, science, arts, veterinary sciences, Micro-biology, bio-technology, Pharmacy, computer science etc. at various levels of under graduate, post graduate and doctoral.  Nepalese students have been sent for study on scholarship to reputed institutions like NIT, JNU, BHU, Delhi University, Jamia Milia Islamia, Osmania University and other Central universities.  More than 20,000 candidates have been benefitted from the scholarships/training provided through Embassy of India since 2005-06.  Nepali students are encouraged to take advantage of various schemes of scholarships.

The event also marked the 127th Birth Anniversary of the first Education Minister of Independent India and founder of ICCR, Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad.  He was posthumously awarded with India’s highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna in 1992.  His birthday is celebrated as National Education Day across India.  As India’s Education Minister, Maulana Azad oversaw the establishment of the Indian Institutes of Technology and the foundation of the University Grants Commission, an important institution to supervise and advance higher education in the nation.

According to a press release issued by Indian Embassy, it is through the efforts of eminent people like Maulana Azad that India has been a center for learning with ever growing number of reputed universities, institutions and colleges.  These centers have been sharing their expertise with the students of friendly countries like Nepal through ICCR and ITEC programs.