India, March 1 -- Sir,

The politicised 21-million dollar United States Agency for International Development (USAID) allocated to India to influence voter turnout has created an impression among the common man that USAID is evil funding and harming the nation.

This perception is rampant among most millennials, who are ignorant of our past. Their knowledge is driven by WhatsApp messages and social media.

The USAID began in 1951 with President Harry S. Truman (April 12, 1945 to Jan. 20, 1953) when India badly needed food aid. Over decades, USAID's role has been supporting infrastructure development, capacity building, economic reforms, higher education and research.

The IIT Kanpur was built with aid from the US and other IITs with assist...