According to a statement from India’s Permanent Mission to the UN, the country will contribute 700,000 USD from the India-UN Development Partnership Fund to the Tuvalu project to store and provide clean water in schools. Notably, the only public school in Tuvalu is called “Motufoua Secondary School.” With a 760 metric cube capacity, the proposed concrete water cistern will store and supply clean water to students, teachers, and school staff, fostering good hygiene and lowering the incidence of water-borne illnesses.
“India will provide funding support of 700,000 USD from the India-UN Development Partnership Fund for the project, “Motufoua concrete water cistern” as requested by the Government of Tuvalu,” the statement read.
In May this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the “Sagar Amrut Scholarship” scheme for the Pacific Island countries, at the Summit of the Forum for India–Pacific Islands Cooperation.
He had also announced a 12-point action plan focusing on health, wellness and community development sectors as per priorities of the Pacific island countries. The water cistern project in Tuvalu is in pursuance of these initiatives focused on the importance of high-impact community development projects in areas of choice by the Pacific countries.
According to Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, the Permanent Representative of India, India’s philosophy sees the entire world as one big family and this project is another step in the direction of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.