India and Bhutan have joined hands to boost local communities with a fresh set of development projects. On Thursday, officials from both countries greenlit 297 High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) worth Nu. 4.06 billion (about Rs 406 crore). These form the second batch under Bhutan’s 13th Five Year Plan.
The approval came during the 2nd India-Bhutan HICDP Committee Meeting in Thimphu. Leading the Indian side was Aniket G. Mandavgane, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of India in Thimphu. Bhutan’s team was headed by Pema Tshomo, Director of the Bilateral Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade.
What are these HICDPs? They’re quick-to-launch, small-scale initiatives that tackle everyday needs. Think better rural roads, clean drinking water, irrigation systems, farm infrastructure, flood defenses, tourism spots, town upgrades, and waste management. Local governments in rural and semi-urban areas handle the work, making a real difference on the ground.
India’s backing for Bhutan’s 13th Five Year Plan totals Nu. 100 billion (Rs 10,000 crore). Out of this, Nu. 10 billion (Rs 1,000 crore) goes straight to these HICDPs, showing strong India-Bhutan cooperation in community development.
The meeting also checked on the first batch of projects. They revised it to 275 initiatives totaling Nu. 4.40 billion (Rs 440 crore). These efforts aim to open up access, create jobs, boost livelihoods, and ensure food security for locals.
In a statement, the Embassy of India in Bhutan highlighted the warm vibes at the meeting, reflecting the deep friendship between the two nations.
Just earlier this month, Bhutan’s Chief Abbot Je Khenpo Trulku Jigme Choedra and Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay visited India. They attended the consecration of the Royal Bhutan Temple in Rajgir, Bihar, and PM Tobgay also paid respects at the Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Such ties keep strengthening India-Bhutan relations.
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