World Bank-aided 73 million dollar livelihood project launched

Patna, Sep 27 (UNI) Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi today launched 73 million dollar World Bank-sponsored ''Jevika'', a Rural Livelihood Earning Project, in six districts of the state.

Launching the project here, Mr Modi said the projects would help to alleviate poverty in rural Bihar as these kinds of schemes had yielded amazing results.

He said the projects would target five lakh families in 4000 villages of 42 blocks in six districts of the state.

''Self-Help Group'' (SHG) of women had been formed in various districts across the state and they were being extended financial assistance by the banks in running their small business activities, aimed at earning livelihood and enhancing the living standards.

'' I was surprised to see the functioning of SHG of women in Andhra Pradesh during my visit to that state, where six lakh of SHGs covering 60 lakh women have changed the face of rural folk there, '' Mr Modi said adding that he had also encouraged the formation of such SHGs in Bihar to bring prosperity in rural areas.

He said the banks were reluctant to open the accounts of SHGs but after his initiative they had opened their account and also were extending financial assistance to their professional venture.

The Banks had extended Rs 150 crore to SHGs in Bihar, while in Andhra Pradesh they had granted loans of Rs 6000 crore which smacked of apathy of Banks in Bihar, he said adding that instructions had been issued to them to mend their ways and cooperate in execution of poverty-alleviation programmes in the state.

Of the total project cost, World Bank would provide 63 million dollars (Rs 252 crore), while the state government would spend another seven million dollars (Rs 28 crore) for the purpose as its contribution in the joint venture programmes in Nalanda, Gaya, Khagaria, Muzaffarpur, Madhubani and Purnia.

Representative of World Bank (Rural Development) Parmesh Shah and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Bihar Rural Livelihood Promotion Society also expressed their views on the occasion.

UNI