At the signing - Michael Haney, Operations Advisor, World Bank, Raj Kumar, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Dinesh Singh Bisht, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs

The Government of India and the World Bank have signed a US$ 50 million credit for the Nai Manzil: Education and Skills Training for Minorities Project to help young people from minority communities complete their education and gain from market-driven training programs with the aim of improving their employment outcomes.

The project will support the Government of India's national Nai Manzil (New Horizon) Scheme, a comprehensive education and skills development program for youth from minority communities, launched in August this year.

The project will reach out to disadvantaged youth from minority communities and support their enrolment in open schooling, as well as provide hands-on vocational training.  It will also provide post-placement support to assist them in finding sustainable employment.

"The Nai Manzil Scheme is designed as an integrated education and training program that provides youth from minority communities skills that are needed for different tasks in a rapidly changing world.

Interventions under this project will support the Nai Manzil Scheme in improving the employability and performance of minority youth in the labor market," said Raj Kumar, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India.

(Continued on the next page)