World Bank Approves USD 125 million Loan to West Bengal for Social Protection Services.

Why in news?

• The World Bank has approved a loan of USD 125 million (around Rs 1,000 crore) to the government of West Bengal (WB) for Inclusive Social Protection’ operations.
• It will strengthen the capability of this state to expand coverage and access to social assistance and targeted service for poor and vulnerable groups of the state.

About the Loan Agreement

• Under the agreement, The WB government runs more than 400 programmes which provide social assistance, protection, care services and jobs through an umbrella platform, ‘Joy Bangla’, the state’s unified delivery system.
• Another initiative named ‘Duare Sarkar’, the programme which offers several government schemes benefits at the doorstep.
• The funding will also help in improving the monitoring of doorstep benefit delivery.

About West Bengal:

• Chief Minister – Mamta Banerjee
• Governor – Jagdeep Dhankhar
• National Parks – Gorumara National Park, Sundarban National Park, Jaldapara National Park Wildlife