A Tripartite Agreement was signed on 1 June between the Indian and Nepali governments and the Manmohan Memorial Foundation (MMF) on the establishment of the Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic in Morang district in eastern Nepal. The Indian government will provide a grant assistance of Rs 280 million towards the establishment of the polytechnic, which will cover all capital costs, including construction of administrative and academic buildings as well as the hostels and the residential complex, for equipment and furniture, and books for the library, a press release issued by the Indian embassy said.

The cost of the deputation of Indian expert faculty, for a period of five years, in disciplines where Nepali faculty is not available, and the cost of training Nepali faculty in India, will also be provided by the Government of India. The institute will be spread over four hectares from the Manmohan Foundation in Hathimunda (Morang district), about 10 kms from Biratnagar airport. The institute will offer 3-year diploma courses in electrical engineering, electronics and mechanical engineering. In addition, there will be short training courses in trade skills for electricians, plumbers, automobile mechanics, fitters, machine operators, electronics mechanics, refrigeration mechanics, carpenters and welder-cum-fabricators.

The Nepali government has proposed to set up one polytechnic in each of the five development regions of the country. The polytechnic in Biratnagar will be the first of these in the eastern development region. (UNI)