Nepal prefers Chinese projects: AU study

Visakhapatnam: Educated people in Nepal claimed that there is a glaring distinction in quality between Indian projects and Chinese in Nepal. While the Indian infrastructural projects like roads get damaged in short duration, the Chinese projects are more durable and are of high quality, the Nepalese feel, said Prof. V Sreemannarayana Murthy, Assistant Professor at the Centre for SAARC Studies, Andhra University. He visited Nepal recently as part of field visit to SAARC countries. He visited the Centre for Nepal and Asian Studies, and the Centre for Economic Development and Administration at Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, to establish academic linkages. He also discussed the ethnic issues, especially the status of Stateless Dalits in the future Constitution of Nepal. He interacted with officials at SAARC Secretariat, Kathmandu, and also talked to a cross-section of people to elicit their perceptions of India. He said Nepal is in transition towards democracy and the intelligentsia of Nepal is questioning the Indo-centric treaties signed by Nepal with India. "Many Nepali middle class students are interested in studying in India, especially south India," he said. He observed that Nepalis welcome the aid from China as they are in dire need of foreign aid which would cater to their basic needs. At the same time, they are not happy with the 'Indian perception' that Nepal is moving towards China thereby endangering India's security, he said. He would send these inputs to the Ministry of External Affairs as part of his research in the Area Studies programme sponsored by UGC.