World Bank promises Haryana Rs 1bn in 5 yrs, Punjab hopeful too

World Bank has big plans for Punjab and Haryana. From helping the states improve their air quality to providing expertise for improving their education facilities, from helping Punjab reduce its power subsidy burden and get its finances back on track to helping Haryana in extending Gurugram Metro and becoming an artificial intelligence hub, the bank is aiming to work closely with the two states in the coming days.

While the Haryana Government could get a funding of 1 billion USD in the next five years, the Punjab Government is also looking at seeking the World Bank expertise on strengthening its public finances, crop diversification and reforming its education sector. This was stated by Auguste Tano Kouame, Country Director of World Bank for India, during an exclusive interview with The Tribune. He was in the city to meet Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini and learn about the priorities of the two states and their CMs.

“I wanted to see that while India plans to become a developed country by 2047, how is this being planned at the state level and what are their own ambitions,” he said.

With improving air quality prime on the mind of the Haryana Government, he said the project would roll out soon and the northwest India would begin to see the results before paddy harvesting next year. Interestingly, the Uttar Pradesh Government is also seeking WB help on improving its air quality.

While Punjab has received direct finance of 1 billion USD from World Bank since 1961; Haryana, too, has received a similar amount since 1971. The two states have also received financing through Central schemes that are funded by World Bank, primarily in the areas of hydrology and groundwater management.

Talking about his meeting with the Punjab CM, Kouame said the bank was negotiating on funding for an education project, POISE. “The project is aimed at improving foundational learning by improving quality of curriculum; helping students transition from primary to secondary and then tertiary level; strengthening teachers’ training while in service; and improving school management system. CM Mann discussed the issue of state of finances and we will soon have a meeting with our economic experts to suggest ways to better manage state finances,” he said.

Kouame said the Punjab CM was also keen on seeking World Bank help in water resource management and solarisation of agriculture pump sets for reducing the state’s power subsidy bill. “Though the state government is looking at availing the 30% subsidy offered by the Centre under the PM KUSUM scheme to go for solarisation and pitching in with their share of 30%, he said farmers will opt for it only if their own contribution for solarisation is drastically reduced from the present 40%. But for seeking funds to reduce the farmers’ share and get it funded, the state will have to seek the Government of India nod. They have also sought our help in bringing an effective crop diversification model that will slow down the fast depleting ground water,” he said.

Kouame seemed impressed after his meeting with the Haryana CM, adding that they were negotiating on a project to improve the air quality in the state and helping it reach its goal of zero stubble burning by 2030. “It was decided that Haryana will constitute a high-level committee of officers from all departments like transport, industry and agriculture to implement and monitor ways of reducing air pollution from stubble, industry, construction and vehicles. They have also requested for funding for the extension of Gurugram Metro project, which is also getting funds from European Investment Bank. Besides, they have sought knowledge inputs for making Haryana a premier education hub and an AI hub for cloud computing and other related aspects of AI,” he said.