The World Bank today approved a 162.7 million dollars loan to Rajasthan to help improve livelihood opportunities in 17 districts of the state. The funding for the Rajasthan Rural Livelihoods Project will help improve economic opportunities for rural communities, especially women and marginal groups, in 9000 villages of the state. The World Bank said in a statement that the project aims to help the state government raise income levels for some Four Lakh rural poor households in the state. Sources in the Finance ministry said, this project with the World Bank is building on the successful livelihood initiatives undertaken in India to provide mechanisms by which rural households can improve their overall economic well-being.