By Anil Giri
Kathmandu, Aug 15 (IANS): India has gifted Nepal 20 ambulances and four buses on the occasion of the 68th Indian Independence Day to be used by various hospitals, non-profit charitable organisations and educational institutions in 19 districts of the Himalayan nation.

At a public function held in the embassy premises in Kathmandu to mark India's Independence Day, India's Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae presented 19 ambulances and four buses to various organisations from 18 districts. The remaining one ambulance was gifted by the Indian consulate in Birgunj to organisations under its consular jurisdiction.

Earlier, Ambassador Rae hoisted the national flag and read out President Pranab Miukherjee's address to the nation Aug 14, which stressed, among other things, India's support for peace, stability and development in its neighbourhood.

At the function, the ambassador also presented books to 75 libraries and educational and training institutions located in different regions of Nepal, including remote districts.

Since 1994, the government of India has gifted 442 ambulances to various organisations across 73 districts in Nepal. This has helped in bringing healthcare services to the doorsteps of thousands of people.

India has also so far gifted 86 buses to various educational and welfare institutions across 24 districts in Nepal, making access to education easier for thousands of students.

Gifting of ambulances and buses is a part of the larger India-Nepal Development Partnership with an overall outlay of over Rs.40 billion ($657.4 million). The cooperation also includes over 490 large and small projects in the sectors of health, education and infrastructure development.