India has handed over a cheque of $1 million to Burma for development products in its conflict-ridden Rakhine state where there have been frequent clashes between Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingyya Muslims.
The Indian envoy in Burma, Gautam Mukhopadhaya, symbolically handed over a cheque of $1 million for the construction of 10 schools in four townships in Rakhine state as India’s contribution towards the reconciliation process between the two communities there.
India’s contribution comes after external affairs minister Salman Khurshid made a commitment of this amount during his visit to Burma in December last year.
Following this pledge, the ministry of border affairs, Burma, submitted a proposal for construction of 10 primary, post primary, sub-high and affiliated middle schools in four townships viz. Sittwe, Maungdaw, Kyauktaw and Minbya of Rakhine state.
“Through this contribution and the development of the Sittwe port and river transport on the Kaladan river, India hopes to contribute to the all-round development of Rakhine state and strengthen the historical ties between state of Burma and the eastern states of India,” said an official statement.