UP govt signs Memorandum of Cooperation with Gates' foundation

The MOC will remain effective till 2017, an official release said.

Few months back, UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and Bill Gates, Co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation had met and discussed a number of issues related to the foundation's work in the state.

Chief secretary Javed Usmani, who signed on behalf of the state government, said that with technical and management support, maternal, infant and child health would be improved and significant steps would be taken to reduce maternal, infant and child morbidity and mortality rates.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation would provide required assistance for the technical support for the districts, divisions and blocks marked by the foundation, he said.

In the field of agriculture, production would be increased through research, he said.

Meaningful steps would be taken in reducing the rate of malnutrition and financial management by taking effective and positive steps through bilateral cooperation in these areas, he said.

Usmani asked Principal Secretaries, Secretaries and Heads of Departments to take effective steps for achieving the set goals of the MOC.

He also urged officials of the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation to soon constitute a State Technical Support Unit.