USAID Funded 7 Projects In India Worth $750 Million In FY24 But Not For 'Voter Turnout': FinMin Report

The latest annual report of the Finance Ministry said USAID funded seven projects worth $750 million in 2023-24.

"Currently, seven projects worth a total budget of $750 million (approximately) are being implemented by the USAID in partnership with the government of India," the Finance Ministry annual report for 2023-24 said.

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For the financial year 2023-24, an obligation of a total of $97 million (about Rs 825 crore) has been made by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) under the seven projects, it said.

The Department of Economic Affairs under the Finance Ministry which is the nodal department for bilateral funding arrangements has also shared the details of projects funded in 2023-24 in the report.

During the year, no funding was made for enhancing voter turnout, but to projects related to agriculture and food security programmes; water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH); renewable energy; disaster management and health.

It said funds were committed for sustainable forests and climate adaptation programme, and energy efficiency technology commercialization and innovation project.

The US' bilateral development assistance to India started in 1951 and it is mainly administered through USAID. Since its commencement, USAID has provided economic assistance of over $17 billion to India in various sectors for over 555 projects.

Political controversy erupted earlier this month after the Elon Musk-led DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) said it cancelled a $21 million grant to India to boost "voter turnout".

US President Donald Trump repeatedly said USAID under the previous administration led by Joe Biden allocated $21 million in funding to India for 'voter turnout'.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said the information put out by the Trump administration is "concerning" and that the government is looking into it.

The USAID was allowed in India "in good faith, to do good faith activities", and suggestions are being made out of America that "there are activities which are in bad faith," Mr Jaishankar had said.

The Congress party on Sunday alleged the BJP was indulging in "anti-national work" by spreading "fake news from America". The party said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr Jaishankar will have to answer as to why the government is silent when President Trump and Elon Musk are "insulting" India repeatedly.

"BJP is a procession of liars and illiterates. The news about $21 million, on which the BJP and their bootlickers were jumping on, turned out to be fake. The $21 million in 2022 was not for 'voter turnout' in India, but for Bangladesh," Congress general secretary in-charge Jairam Ramesh said.