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NEW DELHI, June 19-- Indian government Friday here signed an agreement worth 750 million U.S. dollars with Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to assist country strengthen its response to the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on poor and vulnerable households. The agreement is under the "COVID-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support Programme" of the AIIB. "The agreement was signed by Sameer Kumar Khare, additional secretary, department of economic affairs, Ministry of Finance on behalf of the government of India and Rajat Misra, Director General (acting), on behalf of the AIIB," a statement issued by India's finance ministry said. Officials said the primary programme beneficiaries would be families below the poverty line, farmers, healthcare workers, women, women's self-help groups, widows, people with disabilities, senior citizens, low wage earners, construction workers and other vulnerable groups. "We thank AIIB's assistance for the government's immediate response to the coronavirus pandemic to provide social assistance for compensating economic loss to vulnerable sections including women and social security measures enhanced for affected workers in both organised and informal sectors," Khare said. "AIIB's timely financial support will contribute to the effective implementation of the government's COVID-19 Emergency Response Programme." The programme according to the finance ministry will provide the government of India with budget support to mitigate the severe adverse social and economic impact of COVID-19. | 
