Tuesday, November 15 2005 16:41 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: India has pledged more than US$ 8.6 million for various United Nations agencies, mainly for development and humanitarian purposes, for the next year.

The highest commitment of 4.5 million dollars goes to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) followed by 1.92 million dollars to the World Food Programme (WFP).

The United Nations Children's fund gets 900,000 dollars, UN Population Fund 200,000 and UN Development Fund for Women 20,000 dollars.

Announcing the pledges at the UN Conference for Development Agencies, Ratilal Kalidas Varma, MP, said India accorded the highest importance to the development agenda of the world body as it represents a shared global commitment to poverty alleviation transcending national's borders.

"The development activities of the UN system are seen as the public face of the UN by those outside in the real world. We are convinced that participation in this Pledging Conference is a demonstration of a Member State's continued faith in the development agenda of the United Nations," Settlement (80,000), International Drug Control Programme (60,000), Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in Near East (20,000), Volunteers (15,000) and International Research and Training Institute for Advancement of Women (1,100).