India: GPOBA and Reliance Energy to help provide electricity connections for Mumbai slum dwellers

News Release No. 2009/4

In Washington:
Cathy Russell, tel. (+1) 202 458 8124 crussell@worldbank.org

In New Delhi:
Sudip Mozumder, tel. (+91) 11 24617241: ext 210 smozumder@worldbank.org

New Delhi, May 20, 2009 – The World Bank, acting as administrator for the Global Partnership on Output-Based Aid (GPOBA), has just approved a grant for US$1.65 million to subsidize part of the costs of electricity connection and wiring for inhabitants of the Shivajinagar slum in Mumbai.

Up to 26,000 slum households or approximately 104,000 slum dwellers are expected to eventually benefit from the scheme, either through new electricity connections or regularization of existing connections.