Devdaha Master Plan Unveiled for Lumbini Buddhist University
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel made public the Devdaha master plan of Lumbini Buddhist University. In a ceremony held in Lumbini on Friday for laying the foundation stone of the international hostel building and unveiling the Devdaha master plan, Finance Minister Paudel released the infrastructure master plan costing nearly 80 billion rupees to be built at Devdaha in Rupandehi.
In 2077 B.S. the government granted the university the usufruct of nearly 92 bigha of land in Devdaha. The eighth assembly meeting chaired by Chancellor and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Ashar 32 approved the master plan prepared to occupy that land.
Implementation and Vision
Unveiling the master plan approved by the assembly, Deputy Prime Minister Paudel said the university must be proactive in giving the master plan completion. “It is not enough to only prepare a master plan; the university’s initiative must be continuous for its implementation. We are always ready to cooperate and help.”
He recalled the moment in 2051 B.S. when signatures were collected demanding the establishment of a university and said the institution has now taken its present form. He stated, “This university can be established as the number one in the country and as an educational destination in the world. It must maintain high academic quality to become the students’ choice.”
Educational Expansion and Branding
Paudel noted that, besides Buddhist philosophy, the university has advanced more effectively by teaching other subjects. He gave instructions to take advantage of branding the university with Lumbini and Gautam Buddha and to expand it internationally.
Challenges and Infrastructure Projects
On the same occasion, Deputy Prime Minister Paudel expressed concern that the master plan of the Lumbini Development Trust has not been completed.
He remarked that development does not happen with budget alone and that the Lumbini Development master plan of national pride has not been completed even after 40 years.
He emphasised that the leadership of such institutions must rise above worldly attachment, understand the importance of culture and heritage, and possess knowledge. Paudel said large national projects are gradually being built and that every citizen must engage in their preservation and sanitation.
-
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Subarna Lal Bajracharya of Lumbini Buddhist University said the university is preparing promotional programmes to attract educational tourists to Lumbini. He mentioned that projects like the Tripitaka Park and the Devdaha Education Development Project would contribute to both academic and tourism development.
-
Registrar Dr. Tilak Ram Acharya of Lumbini Buddhist University highlighted the contributions Finance Minister Paudel has made from the establishment of the university to its current development and expressed belief that he will give significant support in implementing the Devdaha master plan.
-
He said the university is constructing infrastructure to develop Lumbini, Devdaha and Butwal as educational centres. The university is building an international hostel in Khadyaiya of Rupandehi at a cost of 12 crore 83 lakh rupees with capacity for one hundred students. This construction is expected to be completed within 20 months. About three thousand students, including around two hundred from abroad, are currently studying at the university.
