Nepal gets $253m World Bank grant

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KATHMANDU, Dec 9 (PTI): The World Bank has approved USD 253 million in grants for Nepal's infrastructure development in an effort to boost the peace process in the Himalayan nation.
The World Bank approved its largest ever support package of USD 253 million to Nepal aimed to improve access to basic and primary education, enhance irrigation, expand rural roads, and improve living conditions, livelihoods, and empowerment among the rural poor.
"We all know that peace is needed for development. But in Nepal we also know that development is needed for peace," said Praful Patel, World Bank Vice President for South Asia.
He said addressing the root causes of the conflict will be key to ensuring lasting peace in Nepal. "Rather than say we will wait and see, we have stressed in our dialogue that reinforcing the peace through development is a more inspiring message for the people of Nepal who are demanding positive change," a statement by the Bank quoted Patel as saying. The new support package doubles the amount of development resources currently available from the World Bank to Nepal.