India’s investment in the district started with the construction of Koshi Barrage at the cost of Indian Rs 7 billion. Construction of some infrastructure projects is under way while many others have been completed. India provided funds for the construction of a building for Narendra Memorial Janata Secondary School and a building for Rameshwor Secondary School at Brahmaputra. Both of the buildings were built at the cost of more than Rs 20 million.

Likewise, construction of a building for Bindeshwori Multiple Campus at Rajbiraj is under way with the cost of Rs 20 million provided by India.

The Indian government also provided Rs 30 million for the construction of a building for Gajendra Narayan Singh Sagarmatha Zonal Hospital at Rajbiraj. The construction work is under way. These are just few examples of India-funded projects in the district.

Gangaram Sah, an official at the District Development Committee (DDC), said that India provides aid to such development projects through the DDC.

Bijaya Prasad Singh of the Nepal Sadbhawana Party said that the Indian government is keen to invest in the district as “many people in the district had supported the fight for independence in India.” “Some senior leaders of various Indian political parties used to take shelter in villages of Koiladi and Wabhangamakatti in Saptari for months during their fight against the British rule,” he said, adding that after India became independent, some of the leaders, who took shelter in Saptari’s villages, became prime ministers or ministers.