India: Tamil Nadu Empowerment and Poverty Reduction Project

WASHINGTON, July 12, 2005- The following project was approved today by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors:

IDA CREDIT AMOUNT: $120 million

TERMS: Grace period = 10 years; Maturity = 35 years

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This project will support the Government of Tamil Nadu with the implementation of a comprehensive empowerment and poverty reduction program in this Indian state of 62 million people, where 20 percent of the population lives in poverty. The objective of the project– called “Puthu Vazhvu” meaning new life – is to create opportunities and build social capital in poor communities and to involve the communities themselves in designing and implementing the changes that will affect them.  For more information, please Benjamin Crow at (202) 473-5105 or email: bcrow@worldbank.org  For project information documents, visit:

http://www.worldbank.org.in/external/default/main?pagePK=64027221&piPK=64027220&theSitePK=295584&menuPK=295617&Projectid=P079708