New Delhi, March 19 (IANS) The government Friday gave its nod to a new scheme worth $145 million to improve the data collection system in the country, called the statistical strengthening project, with 80 percent assistance from the World Bank.

The project, that will help in collecting reliable official statistics to help in the planning and policy-making process, was approved by a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The project will will help in develop the necessary sytems to assist state-run agencies to improve the quality and coverage of the data they collect and to promote their usage at the state, district and block levels, an official statement said.