Mayors across Mithila Circuit join NURP for Conference to Boost Local Economic Development

By TRN Online, Kathmandu, Apr. 26: Mayors across Mithila Circuit joined the NURP for Conference to Boost Local Economic Development.

The UK-Aid funded Sudridh-NURP (Nepal Urban Resilience Programme) is supporting continuous exchange between local governments, enabling collaboration to achieve inclusive local economic development, promote cultural tourism, and support heritage conservation

The Mithila Circuit Mayors’ Conference (MCMC) took place on Tuesday, 18 April 2023, at the Hotel Sitasharan in Janakpurdham, bringing together stakeholders and policymakers including elected representatives from 12 municipalities and gaunpalikas (rural municipalities) of the Mithila region surrounding Janakpurdham, the Greater Janakpur Area Development Council, and from Provincial Ministries alongside the NURP team, according to the press release of the Sudridh-NURP.

The event created a platform for the municipalities, gaunpalikas and provincial officials to work cohesively, providing a space for dialogue on the pathways to develop and extend the Mithila Circuit - a route consisting of various temples, ponds and places of religious significance that is famous for the traditional 15-day long religious walk around its length. Together, the participants aimed to promote heritage conservation and cultural tourism in and around Janakpurdham for the benefit of the local communities and wider economic development. To support visioning for a GRID-aligned Integrated Circuit Master Plan, the event explored ideas for engaging local authorities in a hub for ancient cultural heritage conservation and collaboration opportunities with relevant agencies from provincial and federal government, linking cultural branding with supporting people’s livelihoods, promoting pilgrimage, tourist trekking routes, and facilities, read the press release.

During the event, attendees discussed the Mithila Circuit’s significance, current status, and development potential. Ratnesh Sashi, the Chief Administrative Officer of JSMC spoke about the objective of the conference, “We are aiming to develop a common understanding among the local governments on the development of tourism in the Mithila Circuit area [including] through the branding of the religious walk”. Dr Ajay Chandra Lal from NURP presented the historical, cultural and religious importance of the Mithila circuit and set the tone for the discussion including the current situation, potential benefits and challenges, and future actions for inclusive economic (tourism) development of the sub region.

All representatives from each municipality and gaunpalikas had the opportunity to share their future plans for the development and management of the Mithila Circuit, such as collaborating with respective bodies conserving temples, kutis and ponds; branding and advertising the circuit for tourism promotion; and including the Mithila Circuit history into school syllabi. The Mayor of Matihani Municipality, Hari Narayan Mandal, suggested, “The Mithila Circuit can be presented to the Prime Minister and if possible, it can be discussed with the Indian Government for possible integrated development cooperation between the two countries.” The potential for coordination with India was also mentioned by Mr. Shyam Sundar Sashi – an expert on the Mithila Circuit – who also emphasised the need to raise awareness of the Circuit’s significance with UNESCO.

Sital Sah, the Chairman of Greater Janakpur Area Development Council appreciated the initiative of NURP and JSMC to bring together relevant local governments and stakeholders for mutual support and coordination. He expressed complete support for the mission of the Mithila Circuit Mayors’ Forum.

Following the discussion, participants developed and signed onto the Janakpurdham Declaration – a series of commitments to support Green, Resilient, and Inclusive development of the Mithila Circuit including the establishment a Mithila Circuit Municipality Network for the conservation and development of sites of historical and religious importance in the Greater Janakpur Area, the formulation of a Long-Term Plan (2100 BS) for the Circuit based on green and inclusive employment generation and economic development, as well as the identification of investment projects and preparation of a project bank related to heritage protection, tourism protection, social development and other themes.

The Mayor of Janakpurdham, Mr. Manoj Kumar Sah, spoke on the way the Mithila Circuit Municipality Network will function moving forward, stating, “The nature of the network would be informal with zero intention of conflicting with the Greater Janakpur Area Development Council. Rather, it will complement the Council to achieve the objectives of revitalisation of the religious circuit.”

Sudridh-NURP coordinated the event, bringing together all key stakeholders and facilitating the discussion to best support collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the development of concrete action points, read the press release.