New Delhi (India): India on Wednesday signed a pact worth Dollar 400 million with the World Bank in a bid to aid the poor and vulnerable reeling under the coronavirus crisis.
This is the second operation in a programmatic series of two as the first operation of Dollar 750 million was approved in May 2020. The Dollar 400 million credit has been extended by World Bank's concessionary lending arm International Development Association (IDA).
As per officials, the programme will strengthen the capability of state and national governments in India to provide coordinated and adequate social protection to the poor and vulnerable from the shocks triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr CS Mohapatra, Additional Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs, stated that the COVID-19 crisis has brought to the fore the risks that migrants and the urban poor face and the need for governments to strengthen preparedness for future disasters of this nature. This programme will help further expand and deepen the coverage of India's social protection systems by helping these vulnerable groups in urban and peri-urban areas across the country.
The agreement was signed by Dr Mohapatra on behalf of the Government of India and Sumila Gulyani, Acting Country Director, India, on behalf of the World Bank.
