World Bank to help Bihar in computer literacy

It is one of the poll promises made by CM Nitish Kumar during campaigning for the state elections

The World Bank may help Bihar in imparting computer education and communication skills to millions of youths, state officials said on Saturday.

"World Bank country director Onno Ruhl during his meeting with Nitish Kumar on Friday evening assured all possible assistance for computer education and communication skills to youths," an official in the chief minister's office said here.

Ruhl was impressed with the chief minister's plan of basic computer and communication skills. "Onno Ruhl praised Nitish Kumar's scheme for youths and other initiatives of development," the official added.

To impart computer education and communication skills to youths is part of Nitish Kumar's seven resolves to ensure people of Bihar have basic amenities which are part of the common minimum programme of the Grand Alliance of Janata Dal-United, Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress-led government.

In fact, Nitish Kumar made the promise on the issues during campaigning for the 2015 Bihar assembly elections.

The World Bank will also soon release the money approved for improving the quality of education in Bihar.

The chief minister also sought the World Bank's help to fulfil another resolve of connecting all villages having a population of 250 or more with roads, officials said.

Besides, the World Bank has also assured the Bihar government of providing assistance for its ambitious project of constructing panchayat sarkar bhavans in over 8,400 panchayats across the state.

Ruhl has informed that the World Bank would sign a memorandum of understanding for the Kosi Basin Development Project later this month.

The World Bank had approved the project on December 8, 2015. The cost would be $376.5 million, of which the bank would provide $250 million on credit.