World Bank Engagement in Tamil Nadu:
The Bank’s engagement in Tamil Nadu has spanned more than 50 years, beginning with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)-assisted US$ 14 million Madras Port project approved in 1958. Since then, the Bank has provided assistance to the state in a wide array of sectors ranging from agriculture, irrigation, health, forestry, livelihood, water supply and sanitation, industry & trade, and disaster management to the tune of US$ 3.6 billion in lending (including multi-donor trust funds), of which the International Development Association (IDA) is US$ 2 billion and IBRD is US$ 1.5 billion.
The World Bank’s current program of support in Tamil Nadu is focused on improving rural livelihoods and agricultural growth, restoring water bodies, urban development, improving health outcomes and better disaster management for coastal areas. It is based on both technical assistance and a portfolio of active investment projects.
The current value of the total World Bank portfolio in Tamil Nadu is to the tune of US$ 911.4 million.
At present the World Bank is supporting three single state projects amounting to US$ 541.7 million. It includes Tamil Nadu Empowerment and Poverty Reduction Project (RWSRP); Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernization and Water Bodies Restoration and Management Project; and Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project. There are 5 multi-state projects being implemented in Tamil Nadu, with the state’s share amounting to US$ 268.4 million.
