London : Britain will provide 190 million pounds grants to India over the next four years to support its Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, aimed at providing elementary education for all, a senior minister has said.

"UK is providing 190 million pounds to support the government of India's work. The Indian diaspora in the UK can help by putting pressure on political and community leaders in India to improve children's education," Gareth Thomas, Minister for International Development said at a meeting organised by the Department for International Development and the Commonwealth Business Council in London on Monday night.

The Minister, who returned from a visit to India last week, said the country's economy was thriving in many areas - new technology, communications, finance - but "if that is to benefit the poor then universal education is vital."

He said the grant of 190 million pounds is in addition to the initial grant of 20 million pounds made by DFID last year. "It is also in addition to our on-going commitments to the district primary education programme in Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal."

Press Trust of India
Oct 12, 2004