India Contributes $1 Mn for Violence Hit Rakhine in Myanmar

Photo: Internally displaced Rohingya people making a hut in Sittwe,northwestern Rakhine State, Myanmar

September 4, 2013

India today handed over a cheque of USD one million to Myanmar for development projects in Rakhine state, which was hit by communal clashes last year.

Indian Ambassador to Myanmar Gautam Mukhopadhaya symbolically handed over a cheque of USD 1 million for construction of 10 schools in four townships in Rakhine State as India's contribution towards the reconciliation process between the two communities there, an official release said here.

After the clashes primarily between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims in northern Rakhine State, a commitment was made by External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, during his trip to Myanmar in December 2012, to earmark USD 1 million.

It was India's contribution towards promotion of religious tolerance, communal harmony, peace and reconciliation between the two communities, the release said.

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," it said.

Given the neighbourly historical, cultural and religious links between the two countries, India attaches great importance to its ties with Myanmar, it said.

"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 Myanmar and the eastern states of India," it added.

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