Lumbini : Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Paudel has emphasized the need to develop Lumbini as a destination for quality education.     

DPM Paudel delivered this statement while laying the foundation stone for an international hostel and launching of Devdaha Master Plan in Lumbini today.     

The DPM unveiled the Infrastructure Master Plan at Devdaha of Rupandehi district with the proposed execution cost at Rs 80 billion.     

It may be noted that the government in 2077 BS had provided around 92 bigha of land at Devdaha to the Lumbini Buddhist University for use. The same land has been incorporated in the newly unveiled master plan.     

On the occasion, Finance Minister Paudel called on the University for its active role to enforce the Master plan, reaffirming the government’s support in enhancing the University’s capacity.     

Recalling a signature campaign run in 2051 BS demanding the establishment of the Buddhist University, the DPM expressed his happiness over its institutional development.     

He expressed his confidence that the Lumbini Buddhist University could be established as a number one University in the country and it could also emerge as the global educational destination.     

According to him, the teaching of other subjects besides Buddhist philosophy in the University had added to the effectiveness of the University.     

He directed the University administration for branding of the University in the names of Gautam Buddha and to leverage the branding to expand its international presence.     

The DPM, however, expressed dismay that the Master Plan of the Lumbini Development Trust had not been completed although 40 years has elapsed since it was put in place.     

Similarly, Lumbini Buddhist University’s Vice-Chairperson Prof Dr Subarnalal Bajracharya shared that the University has been running various promotional programmes to attract educational tourism to Lumbini.     

He believed that the Devdaha Master Plan would contribute to the advancement of academics in the University and promotion of tourism sector of Lumbini.     

Also speaking in the programme, University’s Registrar Dr Tilakram Acharya highlighted Minister Paudel’s contribution since the establishment of the University to its current growth.     

He anticipated similar support from Minister Paudel in implementation of the Devdaha Master Plan.     

Likewise, Kalpana Harijan, Deputy Mayor of Lumbini Sanskritik Municipality, recognized the Lumbini Buddhist University as one of the pride projects of the country.     

On the occasion, she called for a special interest and support of the federal government for the overall development of Lumbini.     

The University is going to build an international hostel at Khadaiya of Rupandehi at the cost of over Rs 120 million. The construction work is expected to be completed within 20 months. The hostel will accommodate 100 students.     

The University currently has more than 3,000 students including around 200 international students.(RSS)