India Funds Women's Dormitory at Battambang Buddhist University

The Embassy of India in Cambodia has funded a significant upgrade to the female dormitory at Preah Sihanouk Raja Buddhist University's Battambang campus. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on July 15 formalizes the agreement, which will see essential furniture and computer facilities delivered to the university's newly constructed women's dormitory as part of the Indian government's Quick Impact Projects (QIP). The grant is expected to benefit approximately 140 female students, many of whom hail from rural and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The MoU, titled “Improving Quality of Life of Female Students at Preah Sihanouk Raja Buddhist University, Battambang Branch,” was signed by Indian Ambassador Vanlalvawna Bawitlung and Venerable Vy Sovechea, president of the branch, according to an embassy statement. The project aims to foster a safe, comfortable, and conducive living environment that will enable students to pursue higher education more effectively. Ambassador Bawitlung underscored the deep and enduring civilizational ties between India and Cambodia, rooted in centuries of spiritual and cultural exchanges, particularly through their shared heritage of Buddhism. "India remains committed to supporting institutions that preserve these shared values while equipping young people with the knowledge and skills to contribute to the development of their communities," he stated. The current initiative is being implemented under India’s Act East Policy and the Mekong–Ganga Cooperation framework. Since the QIP scheme began in Cambodia a decade ago, India has supported an average of 10 projects annually. Previous QIPs have included the establishment of information technology centers at universities across the Kingdom. In addition to women's empowerment, other priority sectors for QIPs include education, health, sanitation, agriculture, and climate resilience, the embassy noted.