World Bank inked $84 million credit for Bihar Panchayat

World Bank inked $84 million credit for Bihar Panchayat

World Bank inked a USD 84 million credit agreement with the Centre for the Bihar Panchayat Strengthening Project. The agreement was signed by Nilaya Mitash, Joint Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs on behalf of the government and Michael Haney, Operations Advisor of the World Bank on behalf of the World Bank.

"The objective of the project is to support the state government in promoting inclusive, responsive and accountable gram panchayats in six districts- Patna, Nalanda, Bhojpur, Saharsa, Supaul and Madhepura"

Successful experimentation and learning in these six districts can be scaled up to other districts under other government programmes and the project will include development of:

1) Gram Panchayat Sarkar Bhawan, capacity building for gram panchayats;

2) Strengthening the state government capacity to manage a gradual decentralization & empowerment process

3) Panchayat performance grant and project management and coordination.