India gives Nepal Rs.30 mn to combat iodine deficiency

India on Friday handed over Nepali Rs.51.75 million (Indian Rs.30 million) to neighbouring Nepal towards the Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme 2014-15 in the Himalayan nation.

At a programme here, Indian Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae handed over a cheque for the amount to Nepal Minister of Commerce and Supplies Sunil Bahadur Thapa for execution of the project which is carried out by the state-owned Salt Trading Corporation of Nepal.

The memorandum of understanding for the programme, earlier known as the goiter control programme, was signed on August 3, last year during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Nepal.

According to the Indian embassy here, India has been supporting Nepal for the goitre control programme since 1973 in the form of subsidy for re-iodisation of salt, packing, transportation and advocacy.

An impact study commissioned by India indicated that the programme has been successful in nearly eradicating visible goitre and reducing the incidence of other iodine deficiency disorders in Nepal.

All 75 districts of Nepal have benefited from this programme, said the embassy.