MP Discusses 7,888 Million Dollar Projects with World Bank
Bhopal: The Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan held detailed discussions with the World Bank’s top officials at Washington DC on the first day of his visit on October 1 and sought cooperation for the ambitious development projects in various sectors. He was welcomed by Mr. Akihiko Nishio Acting Vice President South Asia Affairs.
The World Bank officials appreciated the Chief Minister’s positive development vision describing it the most suitable for sustainable development. They were also appreciative of Shri Chouhan’s approach to development dialogues saying that it is for the first time a Chief Minister of any Indian state himself is making presentations and opening development dialogues.
The World Bank officials highly appreciated the e-governance initiatives for sustainable transparency and guarantee of public service delivery. They said that such development initiatives can be easily replicated. The Managing Director World Bank Ms. Mulyani Indrawati assured cooperation and support from the World Bank. She said that proposals for financial support will be positively evaluated at different levels.
The World Bank’s top officials and sector heads looking after South Asia affairs with whom Shri Chouhan held a series of meetings included Ms. Tamar Manuelyan Atinc – Vice President, Mr. Amit Dhar – Sector Manager South Asia Human Development and Education, Mr. Hiroshi Saeki- Human Development Officer South Asia, Ms. Jill Armstrong -Country Programme Coordinator India, Mr. M.N. Prasad – Executive Director, India-World Bank, Ms. Rachel Kyte -Vice President Sustainable Development, Director Sustainable Development South Asia, Mr. Jack Stein – Director Infrastructures and Water, Mr. Jose Luis Irigoyen – Regional Industry Director Infrastructure and Natural Resources South Asia Ms. Anita George.
The Chief Minister in his presentation informed the World Bank officials about development projects in water resources, water supply in urban and rural areas, establishment of public service centres, renewable energy projects, women and child development, higher education projects and Narmada-Malwa Lift Irrigation and Water Supply Projects. Shri Chouhan said that Madhya Pradesh is the fastest growing Indian state. He said that the pace of development can be further accelerated with the World Bank financial support.
The Chief Minister also apprised the World Bank officials of the development strategies Madhya Pradesh has adopted. He listed some novel initiatives like agriculture cabinet, agriculture budget, inclusive growth of urban areas, urban governance and infrastructure building. He also discussed the strategies in rural development, health, women and child development and women empowerment, social security, good governance practices and e-governance.
Giving details about the development scenario in Madhya Pradesh, Shri Chouhan said that human development indices have improved impressively. Remarkable progress has been visible in key sectors like water resources, power generation, agriculture, storage capacity building, horticulture, surface connectivity and health, he added.
