WB considering A.P. request for Rs.2,000 cr. loan

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MAY 19. The State Government's request for a Rs.2,000- crore loan for poverty alleviation programmes is under favourable consideration of the World Bank. The request was made by the Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, to the World Bank Managing Director, Mr. Shengman Zheng, during his two-day visit here on Friday.

The money would be used under DPIP (District Poverty Initiative Programme). Talking to presspersons here on Saturday, Mr. Shengman Zheng, who attended a meeting of the DWCRA groups, said dealing with the State Government was always a pleasure `as it is implementing reforms at great speed'.

The quality of programmes which was fast changing the lives of people was different from programmes elsewhere and the World Bank was `quite impressed and happy about it', he said.

On the Central Government's reservation on the State Governments dealing directly with the World Bank (with reference to recent remarks of the Union Finance Minister), he said there was no question of dealing directly with anyone. `All our dealings have been through the Centre and in future also the Union Government would be involved in any negotiations', he said.

Protests over privatisation were common throughout the world, but the Governments know how to deal with such situations. There was nothing wrong in privatisation of certain industries and the Governments could explain that to the agitating parties and convince them. The World Bank was not unduly worried about them, he said.

Earlier, Mr. Shengman Zheng distributed Rs.25,000 each to 20 self-help groups and Rs.10,000 each to another 20 SHGs of Rangareddy district.

Addressing a meeting of DWCRA group members at Medchal near here, he said the women members gave new hope to the deprived of the world. `Your work in empowering yourselves is a great inspiration for others. Your initiatives through collectives had greatly improved your life as that of the others. We want to work with you to change your life and your country further', he told them.

Mr. Robert Zoga, Sector Manager of South East Asia Region, World Bank, said inspecting the work of DWCRA groups was a satisfying experience. The options taken by the members had changed not only their personal lives but also that of their families and thereby the society, he said.

The Collector of Rangareddy district, Mr. Ajay Jain, and Mr. A.K. Parida, Secretary, Planning, explained to them the functioning of the SHGs and the Government initiatives in poverty alleviation.

Women of the SHGs' earlier explained the impact of the programmes on their lives. Ms. Laxmi, Ms. Manga, Ms. Anjamma, Ms. P. Vijayalakshmi, Ms. Suneeta and Ms. Shankaramma narrated how the thrift groups and SHGs' were made independent in the face of initial resistance from others.

They said having understood the importance of literacy, savings, SHGs, family welfare and the rights of women and girl child, they were trying to spread the message among others. Eradication of child labour, educating the girl child along with the boys and eradication of poverty were their primary goals, they said.

They thanked the Government for making them partners in progress and promised the World Bank team that they would achieve better results soon. Some of them indicated a preference for having their own banks `soon' so that more number of people could be benefited. They expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for sanctioning development works to their groups directly so that while they stood benefited, corruption was eliminated in the works and quality too had improved.

The World Bank team earlier went round the exhibition organised by the DWCRA groups and appreciated the quality and the beauty of the products.

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