NEW DELHI: On Monday, Congress highlighted a report from the Union finance ministry to criticize the Centre regarding its claims about USAID funding for India.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took to X to accuse the government of dishonesty, stating that the seven projects noted in the finance ministry’s report have no relation to “voter turnout”.
“The Union finance ministry itself has thoroughly debunked the falsehoods spread by the PM and his ‘jhoot brigade’, including his well-dressed External Affairs Minister. According to the Finance Ministry’s annual report for 2023-24, USAID is executing seven projects in collaboration with the Government of India, with a total financial allocation of around $750 million,” Jairam Ramesh expressed on X.
“None of these projects pertain to voter turnout. ALL of them are in conjunction with the Union government,” he further stated.
A political stir took place earlier this month when the Elon Musk-led DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) claimed it had revoked a $21 million grant to India meant for enhancing “voter turnout”.
US President Donald Trump has consistently claimed that during Joe Biden’s previous administration, USAID directed $21 million in funding to India for ‘voter turnout’, labeling it a “kickback scheme”.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressed these allegations, describing the disclosures from the Trump administration as “concerning” and currently under scrutiny.
He noted that USAID was allowed into India “in good faith, to conduct good activities”, and suggestions from America imply “there are activities which are in bad faith,” Jaishankar remarked.
The finance ministry’s report indicated that India is engaged in seven projects valued at $750 million in partnership with USAID.
For the year 2023-24, $97 million (approximately Rs 825 crore) was allocated to seven projects focused on agriculture, forest and climate adaptation, water and sanitation, renewable energy, health, and disaster management, according to the ministry’s report for the previous financial year.
The funding of $97 million (around Rs 825 crore) in 2023-24 supported seven projects in agriculture, forest and climate adaptation, water and sanitation, renewable energy, health, and disaster management, according to the finance ministry’s annual report.
The prior report listed the same projects but did not detail the funding amount for 2022-23.
The projects have remained consistent over recent years, with around $70 million allocated for FY22 and FY21. The ministry highlighted that US bilateral development assistance has been ongoing since 1951, primarily through USAID, amounting to $17 billion for 555 projects across various sectors over 73 years.
