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
For further information, contact Helle Nordberg, DFID Press Officer on 020
7023 0600, e-mail
pressoffice@dfid.gov.uk or call our Public Enquiries Point on 0845 300 4100.
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