World Bank lends aid for elementary education in India

The World Bank's concessionary lending arm, the International Development Association (IDA), has entered a $ 1,006.2 million financial agreement with the government of India for the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) programme. The agreement will be effective from August 27, Parliament was told.

According to IANS, the IDA credit will be effective from August 27, 2014 till September 30, 2017, Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

Under the agreement, which intends to improve India's elementary education outcomes, the credit will be available in two portions.

"Funding from the World Bank will form a part of the central share of funds under the SSA and will constitute only 3.37 per cent of the total central funding for SSA.

"The funding of states under the SSA will continue on extent terms centre-state sharing - 65:35 for all states except the northeastern states where it is 90:10.

"As the SSA assists all government schools, children therein will benefit under the programme," she added.

The project is likely to benefit about 200 million children enrolled in elementary schools and 4.5 million teachers in the sector.