$84m World Bank credit to state

PATNA: The state government on Thursday signed an agreement for credit with the World Bank for $84 million for improving Panchayati Raj Instituitions in six districts of the state.
Principal secretary of panchayati raj department Amitabh Verma, department of economic affairs, government of India, joint secretary Nilaya Mitash and World Bank's operation adviser Micheal Haney signed the agreement.
The project, which will close in December2017, is aimed at supporting the state government in promoting inclusive, responsive and accountable gram panchayats in Patna, Nalanda, Bhojpur, Saharsa, Supaul and Madhepura districts. The project may be expanded to other districts following success of the experiment.
The new project has five main components: gram panchayat government building, capacity building for gram panchayats, strengthening the state government's capacity to manage a gradual decentralization and empowerment process, panchayat performance grant and project management and coordination.