On March 27, a team of eight representatives from the World Bank, led by its Country Director for India, Auguste Tano Kouame, met with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy in Amaravati to review the progress of various projects being implemented with the bank’s support. During the discussions, three projects were reviewed – the Andhra’s Learning Transformation (SALT) project, the Andhra Pradesh Integrated Irrigation and Agriculture Transformation Project, and the Improved Health Services Project. The World Bank team commended the state’s progress in implementing these projects, while the Chief Minister urged them to conduct a comprehensive study of the changes taking place in the educational, agriculture, and medical and health sectors.
The Chief Minister elaborated on the reforms being introduced in these sectors, including digitalising classrooms with Interactive Flat Panels (IFP), increasing the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in primary education above the national average, developing government schools through ‘Nadu-Nedu’ to compete with corporate schools, introducing bilingual textbooks, serving nutritious food to students, and implementing programmes like Amma Vodi, Vidya Deevena, and Vasathi Deevena aimed at producing more successful individuals like Satya Nadella from Andhra Pradesh.
He also highlighted the state’s innovative reforms such as Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs), village and ward secretariats, developing new sea and airports for infrastructure, implementing the Family Doctor concept, Aarogya Sri, and building 17 new medical colleges to meet growing medical needs. Kouame praised the reforms and assured cooperation with the state and extending all possible help for the next 25 years in line with the Chief Minister’s mission and vision. The team also expressed their continued support to the Chief Minister in taking the state forward.
