The government has launched a five-year multi-billion rupees programme targeting the development of over 100 villages and cities in Tarai districts bordering India.

The Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development announced on Monday that implementation of Border Area Development Programme had begun in 107 VDCs and seven municipalities in eight Tarai districts bordering India (the entire province number 2 in the federal model proposed by the constitution) for developing physical and social infrastructure. The Rs 4.92 billion programme, scheduled for a formal inauguration in Mohottari on Thursday, will run till fiscal year 2019/20.

“The programme is meant for areas that have fallen behind in Human Development Index,” Joint Secretary at the Ministry Dhan Bahadur Shrestha said. “A budget of Rs 164 million has been allocated for the programme this fiscal year.”

The BADP is being implemented in Parsa, Bara, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Mahottari, Dhanusha, Siraha and Saptari districts—the heartland of the ongoing Tarai agitation. The region has been lagging behind in life expectancy, literacy and per capita income values compared to other areas of the country. The Human Development Index of the eight districts is below the national average 0.540, with the index of some even falling under 0.400. The UN’s HDI measures human development of each country on a scale of 1 on the strength of their health, education and sanitation facilities. 

According to Shrestha, the programme will focus on areas of local road networks, small-scale irrigation, agriculture, drinking water, sanitation, community infrastructure, environment conservation, energy, schools, sub-health posts, toilets, skill development and social awareness. He further said that provisions are in place for employing local resources for the programme.

The decision comes amid protests led by Madhes-based parties in the region against the constitution. The protesters argue that the region has always been down the Kathmandu’s pecking order in terms of development. The introduction of the package has been seen as a government plan to win over the Madhesi community to make them withdraw the protests.