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Press Release-India contributes US$ 1 million for reconciliation efforts in Rakhine State
India contributes US$ 1 million for reconciliation efforts in Rakhine State
The Ambassador of India to Myanmar, Gautam Mukhopadhaya, today symbolically handed over a cheque of US$ 1 million for the construction of 10 schools in four townships in Rakhine State as India's contribution towards the reconciliation process between the two communities in the Rakhine State of the Republic of Union of Myanmar at a function in Sittwe in the presence of the Deputy Minister of the Minister of Border Affairs, Maj. Gen. Maung Maung Ohn and Rakhine state government officials on behalf of the Chief Minister of the state, H.E U Hla Maung Tin.
The announcement is a follow-up to a commitment made by External Affairs Minister of India in December 2012 to earmark US$ 1 million as India’s contribution towards promotion of religious tolerance, communal harmony, peace and reconciliation between the two communities affected by the communal clashes in Rakhine State in 2012. Following this pledge, the Ministry of Border Affairs, Myanmar, submitted a proposal for construction of ten primary, post primary, sub-high and affiliated middle schools in four townships viz. Sittwe, Maungdaw, Kyauktaw and Minbya of Rakhine state. India hopes this modest effort will advance government and international efforts to restore communal harmony and promote education among both communities in Rakhine State. The money will be released in accordance with benchmarks on the progress of work on the construction of schools and the objectives of the contribution.
Given the neighborly historical, cultural and religious links between the two countries, the Government of India attaches great importance to its ties with Myanmar. Through this contribution and the development of the Sittwe port and river transport on the Kaladan river, India hopes to contribute to the all-round development of Rakhine state and strengthen the historical ties between state of the Union of Myanmar and the eastern states of India.
Sittwe, Myanmar
September 3, 2013
