The State government and World Bank will sign an agreement shortly for expanding Vazhndhu Kaattuvom, an empowerment and poverty reduction project, to 1661 more panchayats in 50 blocks with an outlay of Rs.950 crore.
An official release stated that the World Bank team led by project leader Natasha Hayward held consultation with Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin at the Secretariat on Thursday. With an objective to create economic opportunities and build social capital in the poorest communities, the project, in its first phase, was implemented at a cost of Rs.717 crore in 70 most backward blocks in 16 districts. Apart from forming self-help groups among the poor, it focusses on training youth for employment.
