It is heartening to note that ‘Ekti Bari, Ekti Khamar’ (One House, One Farm) project initiated by the present government has changed the lot of many poor women in Netrakona district, according to a report of this newspaper on Saturday. Not only in Netrakona, many poor women in different places of the country are enjoying the benefits of the project. The project should indeed be one of the most successful programmes to eradicate the poverty level of the country, and the relevant authorities need to take the project very seriously. As the project now targets the impoverished people of the whole country, by aiding them to build their shelter with a means of income generation, it can also check the displacement of people from one place to another.

Natural calamities uproot many people in the country almost every year. Flood, drought and river erosion leave thousands of people devastated. The victims find no other alternative but to migrate to cities and towns for survival. The displaced people are also seen crowding the capital. The ‘monga’ (seasonal food crisis) also forces many people of the northern region of the country to come to the capital to make a living. These rootless people add to the population of Dhaka city that is already overburdened with around 160 million people.

The ‘One House One Farm’ project thus can help check unwanted migration of people also. It is time for the government to think over decentralization and balanced development of rural and urban economy. Therefore, the relevant authorities should strengthen the 'One House One Farm' project. The budgetary allocation for this project should also be increased substantially. The project should also be expanded to all the districts of the country. Measures should be taken so that the benefits of the project reach the people at the grassroots level.

Millions of people are steeped in abysmal poverty. The government should lift them from this dire situation so that they can live with dignity. Their children should have access to education and healthcare. If their children get the facility of free education up to a certain level they will not be exposed to child labour. It is the responsibility of the state to come forward to assist them in their effort to live a life with dignity. The people living below the poverty line should not be abandoned by the ones living in advantageous state. It is also expected that the targeted people of the project will not be considered on the basis of their political leanings.