Kathmandu, Apri. 10: On behalf of Honourable Ryutaro Hashimoto, former Prime Minister of Japan and Member of the House of Representatives of Japan, Mitsuaki Kojima, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal handed over a cheque of US$1,000 to Dr. Govinda Prasad Ojha, Director of Kanti Children’s Hospital at a function held in Kathmandu today. The cheque was sent by Hon’ble Hashimoto as a token of his personal donation to Hashimoto Trust Fund, the Japanese Embassy said.

Hashimoto Trust Fund was established in the Hospital in 1993 with the objectives of providing free medical services to the most needy children, especially destitute who visit the hospital for treatment and to grant Hashimoto Awards to the outstanding employees of the Hospital by utilising accrued interest of the Trust Fund.

Speaking on the occasion, Hospital Director Dr. Ojha expressed his sincere thanks to Hon’ble Hashimoto for the generous help and for his keen interest in providing the medical services for the needy children of Nepal.

Similarly, on behalf of Honourable Ryutaro Hashimoto, former Prime Minister of Japan and Chairman of the Hashimoto Foundation, Mitsuaki Kojima, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal handed over cheques (US$1,000 each) to four students of Kathmandu University at a function held in Kathmandu today. The four recipients of the Hashimoto Foundation Scholarships for the year 2000 are Ms. Anjana Shakya, Mr. Ram Hari Lamichhane, and Mr. Bushnu Dutta Gautam as M. Phil. students and Mr. Chitra Prasad Devkota as M. Phil. leading to Ph. D. student. All four belong to Faculty of Education.

The function was attended by Dr. Suresh Raj Sharma, Vice Chancellor and other faculty members of the Kathmandu University. The Hashimoto Foundation has been providing scholarships to the students of Kathmandu University since 1998.

“Hashimoto Foundation” was established with the generous contributions of the Honourable Ryutaro Hashimoto, former Prime Minister and Member of the House of Representatives of Japan. The Foundation has so far granted scholarships to ten outstanding students of Kathmandu University, including four scholarships this year to support study at the graduate level programmes leading to the M. Phil, and Ph.D. degrees in education under the School of Education.

Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chancellor of Kathmandu University Dr. Sharma expressed his sincere thanks to the Hashimoto Foundation for providing scholarships to his students.