Afghanistan MP Naheed Farid requests PM Narendra Modi for schools; Herat to now get two schools

India will be helping build two schools in Afghanistan's Herat province. The foundation laying of the two schools — Baba Zangi Ata High School and Amani High School in Herat and Enjil Districts of Herat province has already taken place and the construction will be completed in eight months. The development comes after Member of Afghanistan Parliament Naheed Farid requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December of 2017 for schools since these schools were functioning under tents. Naheed Farid was elected to the Afghan Parliament at the age of 27, becoming the youngest parliamentarian.

Speaking to WION from Kabul, Afghan MP Naheed Farid spoke about her interaction with the PM. She had told the PM, "60 per cent of (Herat schoolgirls) are studying under tents or open skies. Surprised at my answer, Modi asked me how can India help them to which I proposed the construction of two schools in Herat. Modi assured me to help the Afghan students and also asked me to submit a concept note. It was puzzling for me as to why Modi asked me about Herat's girls. I realised later that Herati girls performed the national anthem of India in Hindi during his visit to Herat for the inauguration of the Salma Dam Project."

The total cost of the projects is USD 4,50,000, of which India will be paying USD 3,15,000. India is paying 70 per cent of the total cost of the project, while 30 per cent is being borne by Farid Foundation of MP Naheed Farid. Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan Vinay Kumar expedited the project once PMO flagged off the issue with the Indian Embassy in Kabul.

The foundation laying was done in the presence of Deputy Minister of Education Mr Sardar Mohd Rahimi who was the chief guest at the ceremony, along with Deputy Governor of Herat Ms Hassanzada, MP Naheed Farid & Consul Gen of India to Herat, Kumar Gaurav.

Speaking to WION, Kumar Gaurav, Consul General of India in Herat, said- "Students of Afghanistan want to study. We have to give them a conducive environment. Madam Farid visited India and met Hon'ble PM Modi and presented a concept note. Madam Farid has been a beacon light of hope for Afghan citizens. She has been doing a fantastic job in Afghanistan. We need so many Naheed Farids in Afghanistan. I hope these schools will produce such Naheed Farids which will take Afghanistan from darkness to light, from ignorance to knowledgeable society, and from violence to peace and prosperity. India's commitment towards the educational reconstruction of Afghanistan is unwavering and absolute".

10 thousand students are expected to benefit from it. Baba Zangi ATA High School will be the largest school in the province with 24 classrooms while While Amani High School will have 12 classrooms.

Herat is the same province in which India Afghanistan friendship dam is located. Thanking PM Modi for India Afghan Dam or the Salma dam, Farid said," I profusely thanked India for construction of Salma Dam which illuminated thousands of houses, while construction of Parliament Building would deepen the roots of democracy in Afghanistan. I also thanked Excellency PM Modi for empowering Afghan citizens through various capacity building programmes while cooperation on Chahbahar will give access to sea for Afghan goods which will only bring welfare and prosperity for Afghan citizens."

In June of 2016, Prime Minister visited Herat in western Afghanistan and he along with President Ghani jointly inaugurated the Afghan-India Friendship Dam, earlier known as Salma Dam. About 1,500 Indian and Afghan engineers and other professionals worked in difficult conditions to complete the dam.

PM Modi first visited Afghanistan on 25th December 2016 during which he inaugurated the newly built Afghan Parliament, announced 500 scholarships for the children of the martyrs of Afghan Security Forces and gifted four Mi-25 Attack helicopters to the Afghan Air Force.

India has taken up 116 High Impact Community Development Projects in 31 provinces of Afghanistan. New Delhi has been involved in a number of development programmes for education, capacity building, skills and human resource development in Afghanistan. It is one of the largest such programmes in the world, will continue for a further period of five years from 2017 to 2022.