By Sidhima Choudhary
A latest annual Financial Ministry report disclosed that USAID (United States Agency for International Development) funded seven projects in partnership with Government of India playing an alleged role in the Indian elections. The project totalled around $750 million for financial year 2023-2024. The revelation led to a heated political controversy regarding the alleged involvement of the USAID in influencing Indian elections.
Subsequently, the Department of Economic Affairs, primary department handling the bilateral funding arrangement, also revealed the details of the project which included the information of the funding.
The funding which was initially intended to enhance voter turnout in India, but the projects revealed that it was allocated to the Sustainable Forests and Climate Adaptation Program, as well as the Energy Efficiency Technology Commercialization and Innovation Project. The project relates to agriculture, food security programme: water, sanitation and hygience (WASH), disaster management etc.
The controversy erupted earlier this month after Elon Musk-led DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) disclosed DOGE cancelled a $21 Million grant to India to boost “voter turnout.” Further, US President Donald Trump repeated his criticism about $21 million provided to India during Biden presidency calling it a ‘kickback scheme,’ saying he does not care for it and hence essentially India does not need it.
On Sunday, the Trump administration the firing of over 1600 employees at the US Agency of USAID whereas the other staffers working outside US has also been put on a paid leave. Amid the other jabs Trump has taken over India and USAID, his recent statement in the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), he said,” India is taking advantage of us in a pretty good way.” He called India as the highest tariff imposing country in the world exaggerating that “they take 200 per cent tariff and then they ask money for election.”