Orissa received Rs.1240 crore DFID funds

Tathya.in, Bhubaneswar:27/August/2008

The Department for International Development (DFID), the UK Government’s arm for managing aid to poor countries and poorer states, is likely to increase financial assistance for Orissa.

DFID is the largest bilateral donor in Orissa and has been working in the state since 80’s.

From 2002-03 to 2007-08, DFID, has spent about Rs.1240 crore directly in Orissa.

“Though its financial contribution at approximately Rs.200 crore per year is small compared to resources available to the state, but its technical expertise and knowledge of good development practice has made a difference in helping the state address poverty successfully,” said a senior DFID official.

DFID, which works at the national level as well as is supporting programs in several states like Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar.

During last five years it has provided Rs.8,000 crore to India in bilateral aid.

“The aim is to help India achieve the millennium development goals as announced by the United Nations in 2000,” said a source in DFID.

The British Prime Minister Gordon Brown during his recent visit to the country had announced an investment of Rs.6, 600 crore in India over the next three years.

Of that, up to Rs.4, 000 crore is likely to be spent on health and education.

Similarly in Orissa to improve health and education DFID has come in a big way, said an official.
In the Orissa Health Sector Support Program (OHSSP) with budgetary support of Rs.400 crore and technical assistance to the Government of Orissa, DFID will be playing a major role.

OHSSP covers comprehensive health sector plan to be carried out during 2007-2012 in order to reduce infant and maternal mortality rates by nearly half by 2010, eliminates leprosy and polio, reduce deaths from malaria and TB by half and various others programs.

District Primary Education Project (DPEP) with a funding of Rs.320 crore during 2001-08 has positive impact on increasing enrolment from 77 per cent in 2001 to 97 per cent in 2006-07, while arresting the drop out rates.

Public Sector Reform Program (PSRP) aiming to reform the state civil service with a funding of Rs.240 crore has helped the state to increase revenue earning 25 per cent on year to year basis by switching over to VAT regime.

PSRP helped in computerizing the entire treasury system, resulting seamless money transfer and smooth transaction of bills.

Public Enterprises Reform Program (PERP) has helped the state taking care of ailing and sick Public Sector Undertakings (PSU) with support of Rs.240 crore during 2004-08.

Thanks to DFID support, now the State Government is saving Rs.192 core per annum on this count, said an analyst of the PSUs.

Sincere initiatives of Supriya Pattnayak, Chief of State Unit in spearheading the activities of DFID has resulted addressing the poverty reduction and generation of goodwill for the UK Government, said a senior Secretary in the Government of Orissa.

Civil Society and Poverty Program (CSPP) came to the rescue of the smaller NGOs engaged in poverty reduction in Orissa.

DFID funded Rs.12 crore during 2003-08 in which 34 NGOs have been supported.

Funding to the tune of Rs.264 crore has supported the Western Orissa Rural Livelihoods Project (WORLEP), which reaches about 80,000 house holds in the most poor and backward districts of Orissa like Kalahandi, Nuapada, Balangir and Bargarh.

Improvement in household income has been reported due to the support program.

Orissa Tribal Empowerment and Livelihoods Project (OTELP) funded by DFID to the tune of Rs.80 crore during 2004-10 reaches 23,000 households across 4 tribal districts of Koraput, Gajapati, Kalahandi and Phulbani.