Press Release
20 January 2008
UK Prime Minister announces aid package for India
Prime Minister Gordon Brown today announced that the UK will invest another £825 million pounds for development in India over the next three years. The Prime Minister announced the funding during a two day visit to India.
Of that, up to £500 million pounds is expected be spent on health and education. This will help provide 300,000 more teachers and another 300,000 classrooms - ensuring that in total by 2011, 4 million more children – half of them girls – will be able to go to school.
The Prime Minister announced the funding during a two day visit to India. Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: “Over the last few years, India has made great progress in tackling poverty and sustaining economic development. But some grave challenges remain. The UK is keen to play its part and work in partnership with India to fight poverty. That is why I am pleased to announce this substantial package of support to help make a better future for India’s poorest.”
The UK’s Secretary of State for International Development, Douglas Alexander, said: "Without India getting on track, the world will fail to meet the Millennium Development Goals. That is why the UK contribution - which accounts for one-third of all aid to India - is welcomed. Past UK support has helped to raise primary school enrolment rates to 94% and provided water and sanitation for 10 million slum dwellers. The £825 million contribution will continue to benefit India's poorest by improving health (including under-nutrition) and education for all."
Though parts of India are booming, the levels of child malnutrition in India are nearly twice as high as the average for all of Sub-Saharan Africa. India is home to one-third of the world’s poor. Up to 400 million people live on under a dollar a day.
Notes for Editors
1. 40% of the world’s undernourished children are in India.
2. DFID works at the national level and also supports programmes in four focus states: Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal.
Links
- How we fight poverty
- How you can help
- India country profile
Brown announces India aid package - BBC website, 20 January 2008
