As a college pass-out, Jim Young Kim participated in anti-World Bank protests movement called "Fifty years is enough". At that time he did not see the bank as working on the forefront of social issues like environmental sustainability, gender equality and healthcare. As the World Bank president now, Kim is steering its social commitments and even applying some personal touch to some of its core areas – like fighting tuberculosis in India.

“I don’t get personally involved in so many projects. But among the few I am personally involved in is improving the healthcare system in India,” said Kim in New Delhi on Wednesday, as he addressed press during his first visit to India after taking up this assignment. He is also physician by profession and before becoming WB president, he was the president of Dartmouth College, US.

The core of his project is to fight tuberculosis. “We need to make strong contribution with the government of India. In a few months, I will return to India to find out how we can best tackle this enormous problem. If we deliver this project in India, I think this would be a critically important model for the rest of the world,” he said.

According to Global Tuberculosis Report 2012 by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the prevalence of tuberculosis is 3.1 million (31 lakh) at best and 4.3 million (43 lakh) at high.

India has achieved the middle-income country status, but the World Bank is still committed to its annual assistance to the country. According to Kim, India’s potential is very high. “Achieving the World Bank group’s mission of ending global poverty will require us to step up our support for India’s poorest citizens… We can't end poverty without India; so India simply has to grow. The World Bank group is committed to supporting the Indian people as they pursue this crucial goal.”

India is the World Bank group’s largest client. Between 2009 and 2013, the group lent around $26 billion to India. Kim also said that the group would work toward continuing its level of annual assistance of $3-5 billion to India over the next four years.

However, the WB president also said eradicating poverty in Uttar Pradesh is crucial. Kim also visited the state and met chief minister Akhilesh Yadav. “There is no way the plan could be successful in achieving the aim of ending poverty without being successful in UP,” he added.

“The government is very committed at the highest level. The bank is also committed with government here towards the project of cleaning the Ganga. It is a long-term project and delivery is the key to the project,” he told reporters. 

During his visit to India, he also met prime minister Manmohan Singh, finance minister P Chidambaram, civil society leaders, private sector representatives and a youth group.