A large chunk of the Ministry of External Affairs Budget will continue to go as aid to the neighbouring countries Bhutan and Nepal. Out of MEA’s total allocation is Rs 15010.97 crore, Rs 3605 has bene set aside for technical and economic cooperation with other countries including neighbourhood.
A sum of Rs 2,650 crore has been set aside as an aid for Bhutan for technical and economic development projects including hydro-electric power projects. Nepal will get about Rs 650 cores. In addition, an assistance of Rs 11.78 crores has been kept for the Nepal Police Academy for the construction of a water treatment plant, internal roads, office complex, accommodation block, messes, class rooms and seminar hall. “The implementation of the
scheme would lead to strengthening bilateral relationship between India and Nepal and improve training capacity of the Nepal Police,” Budget documents said.
Among the neighbours , Maldives with Rs 125 crores gets the least amount as aid compared to others in the SAARC region. Last year, Maldives was allotted Rs 245 crore which was 512% hike compared to Rs 40 crore marked in the Budget estimate of 2016-17.
The Finance Ministry has allotted Rs 1058 crore for the passport and emigration services to meet the target of issuing about 1.5 crore passports annually.
However, running of MEA and embassies and diplomatic missions abroad take way the major chunk of expenses with Rs 2701 crores allotted for them. In addition Rs 2400 has been set aside for Rs Special Diplomatic Expenditure’.