21-member Nepali local govt delegation departs for India on capacity-building study visit
Kathmandu, August 4
A 21-member delegation of local representatives from Koshi Province, Nepal, has departed for India to undertake a study tour aimed at enhancing local governance and institutional capacity.
According to the Embassy of India in Nepal, the delegation comprises Mayors, Chairpersons, and Administrative Officers from four districts in Koshi Province, including Ilam, Panchthar, Taplejung, and Terhathum.
In a post on X, the Embassy noted that during the visit, the delegates will attend a customised training course hosted at the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR) in Hyderabad. The program focuses on key areas of local administration, including agriculture, sustainable development, and governance models.
"A 21-member delegation comprising Mayors, Chairpersons and Administrative Officers from the districts of Ilam, Panchthar, Taplejung and Terhathum in Koshi Province, Nepal, is departing for India on a study visit under the Government of India's capacity-building initiatives," the Embassy wrote.
"The programme includes a customized training course @NIRDPR_India, Hyderabad, focusing on #Agriculture, #SustainableDevelopment and #Governance. The initiative reflects the shared commitment of India and Nepal to promoting knowledge exchange, strengthening institutional capacities, and further deepening the longstanding partnership between the two countries," it added.
The Embassy noted that this visit marks the fourth delegation of Nepalese local government officials travelling to India under the government's capacity-building framework in recent months.
"The earlier delegations were from Sankhuwasabha (Koshi Province), Humla (Karnali Province), and the districts of Dadeldhura, Baitadi and Darchula (Sudurpashchim Province), underscoring the growing momentum in bilateral cooperation at the local government level," the post read.
Earlier in June, a delegation of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Nepal, led by Chairman of RSP Rabi Lamichhane, visited India on the invitation of the BJP President Nitin Nabin, as per an official statement.
During the visit, the delegation met BJP National President Nitin Nabin and other senior leaders of the party in New Delhi.
Additionally, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also held a meeting with the Nepalese delegation led by Rabi Lamichhane.
Home Minister's Office, in a post on X, said, "A meeting was held by Union Home Minister Amit Shah with the Nepalese delegation led by Rabi Lamichhane, Chairman, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), in New Delhi. The Hon'ble Home Minister congratulated Lamichhane on RSP's victory in the elections and conveyed India's best wishes for the success of the new government. Both sides expressed their firm resolve to work together for enhancing the special ties between India and Nepal."
The visit sought to initiate party-to-party engagement between RSP and BJP and provide an opportunity for exchange of views on organisational practices, democratic processes and people-centric political outreach, as per the statement.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is the kind of soft diplomacy that actually works. For too long, we've only read about border tensions and political issues between India and Nepal. Capacity-building programs like this build trust at the grassroots level, which is more sustainable in the long run.
With all due respect, I hope the focus is on genuine knowledge exchange rather than just photo ops. Nepal has its own unique governance challenges, and our training programs should be tailored to their context, not just a one-size-fits-all approach. Still, any step toward regional cooperation is positive.
Fourth delegation in recent months shows this is not just a one-off gesture. The RSP leaders' visit to meet BJP leadership and Amit Shah ji also signals deepening political engagement. India should continue this momentum - our neighborhood policy must be proactive, especially with Nepal. 🙏
The Koshi province has heavy Indian influence historically and culturally. It's good we're investing in institutional capacity there. But I'd love to see the exchange be more reciprocal - Indian panchayats could also learn from Nepal's community forest management which is world-renowned!
Focusing on agriculture and sustainable development is smart - these are areas where India has scale experience and Nepal has local expertise. The RSP-BJP engagement also shows mature democracy where parties across borders can interact. Good times for bilateral relations!
V We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.