Tk 826.12cr livelihood programme okayed
ECNEC approves total 9 projects involving Tk 3,088.35cr
UNB
The Executive Committee of the National Economic (ECNEC) yesterday approved Improvement of Livelihood of Marginal Communities Programme at an estimated cost of Tk 826.12 crore, aiming to provide housing facility to some 20,000 ultra-poor families in 11 city corporations and 25 municipalities, reports UNB.
The approval came from the weekly ECNEC meeting held at the NEC conference room in the city with ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
The meeting approved a total of nine projects involving an overall estimated cost of Tk 3,088.35 crore, said Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal while briefing reporters after the meeting.
Of the total project cost, Tk 2,339.88 crore will come from the governments fund, while Tk 50.54 crore from the own fund of the organisations concerned and the rest of Tk 697.93 crore as project assistance, he said.
All the nine projects are new and the biggest project in terms of cost is the Improvement of Livelihoods of the Marginal Communities Programme which will be implemented by February, 2023 in 11 cities of the country and 25 municipalities, mostly in coastal areas.
About the programme, the Planning Minister said the DFID and UNDP will provide about Tk 698 crore as grant for the programme taken by the Local Government Division to reduce poverty.
As per the project proposal, 5,000 ultra-poor families will be given a two-room flat each free of cost, while 15,000 ultra-poor families will be given interest-free long-term housing loans under the community housing development fund.
The 20,000 families will be provided with basic services like water connections, sanitation, drainage and approach road facilities under the project.
The Planning Minister said the programme was first placed before the meeting with the title National Urban Poverty Reduction Programme. But, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the meeting renamed it as Improvement of Livelihood of Marginal Communities.
The Prime Minister also directed the authorities concerned to make separate arrangements of kitchen and toilet facilities for the beneficiaries of the programme alongside strictly maintaining the waste management in a planned and disciplined way.
According to the project proposal, the 25 municipalities from the coastal areas have been brought under the programme at the primary stage considering the risk of adverse impact caused by the climate changes. Other municipalities will also be brought under the programme if it is proved to be successful.
The ECNEC meeting also approved the Installation of some 8.50 lakh Smart Prepaid Meters under DPDC areas Project at an estimated cost of Tk 657.95 crore.
The Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited will implement the project by June 2021.
The prepaid meters will be installed at Ramna, Jigatola, Dhanmondi, Adabar, Poribagh, Kakrail, Banoshri, Moghbazar, Shyamoly, Kamrangirchar, Banglabazar, Narinda, Postogola and Demra areas of the capital as well as Fatullah, Shitalakhya, and Siddhirganj upazilas in Narayanganj district.
