World Bank Loans To India Climb 170 per cent
The World Bank has approved a record 3,8 billion US dollar (ca. 21 milliarder DKR) in lending to India, including 2,3 billion dollar in consessional loans, in the financial year to June 30, figures to be released later this month will show.
The funding approved in the year to June 30 included 600 million dollar for rural credit co-operatives, 280 million for vocational training and 225 million for irrigation programs in Orissa in eastern India, as well as increased money for an anti-tuberculosis program and healthcare for women and children.
– This is the largest delivery we have ever done, says Praful Patel, World Bank Vice-President for South Asia, adding: – It is the biggest in the history of India.
He says the Bank is largely supporting Indian-led initiatives. – We are not designing programs. We are putting money into well-designed programs, noted he.
The World Bank is encouraging India to set aside some reserves to help fund infrastructure development. But officials say this is not a panacea (patentløsning) for the countrys funding needs.
As for access to private capital, Dhanendra Kumar, Indias representative on the World Banks board, says “private capital does not get attracted to the pro-poor programs”.
– While we are all together in supporting Sub-Saharan Africa as priority number one, the fact remains that the number of poor living below one US dollar (5,50 DKR) a day in India is almost equal to the number in Sub-Saharan Africa – 300 million, he explained.
Meanwhile, India and the World Bank Thursday signed a loan agreement for “Third National HIV/AIDS Control Project” for 250 million dollar for supporting the National AIDS Control Program (2007- 2012).
The project aims at scaling up prevention efforts in the High Risk Groups and the general population. It further aims at increasing care, support and treatment to the affected people.
Kilde: www.worldbank.org
