Social safety net effectively improves livelihoods of poor

RANGPUR: Successful implementation of the massive social safety net programmes (SSNPs) has effectively improved livelihoods of the poor bringing them out of vicious cycle of poverty in the district, reports BSS.

According to officials and development experts, the government is implementing SSNPs as priority initiatives of Prime Minsiter Sheikh Hasina through GO-NGO collaboration to ensure social security of poor, backward and underprivileged people.

“The SSNPs have improved livelihoods and economic conditions of the poor who are leading normal life now though they lived in miseries even a decade ago,” said Monjushree Saha, director (Development Programme) of RDRS Bangladesh.

“The Asrayan Prakalpa, micro-credits, training for income generations, allowances for divorcees, poor pregnant women, lactating mothers, elderly citizens and disabled people, education assistance, rehabilitation and other SSNPs are playing vital role,” Monju said. According to district administration sources, the main SSNPs include Test Relief (TR), Food for Work (FFW), Works for Taka (Kabita), Vulnerable Group Development (VGD), Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF), providing shelters and various allowances.

“Under the Asrayan Prokalpo, 4,390 homeless families improved livelihoods after their rehabilitation so far at 494 barrack houses under 39 projects in the district,” said Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) AKM Maruf Hasan.

Rehabilitated Feroza Khatun at Purbo Kochua-1 Asrayan Prokalpo in Gangachara upazila here said her family became homeless 17-year back when the Teesta devoured everything in nearby Purbo Kochua Fakirpara village.

“I, along with my husband Alef Uddin, our son Sirajul and daughter Arjuma lived on the lands of others, highlands and flood control embankments, passed miserable days and also starved amid uncertainty,” Feroza said. Everything started changing after the family got shelter there in 1997 to begin new life as the then government of Sheikh Hasina completed its construction during her previous 1996-2001 tenure.

They received micro-credits of Taka 6,000, 10,000 and 15,000 from Upazila Cooperative Office in three phases, bought cows, opened grocery shop, bought cultivable land that gives three crops a year and completed loan payments through weekly installments.

 “We are now leading solvent life with sanitation and pure drinking water facilities having assets worth Taka five lakh and arranged marriage of our daughter though we had nothing after becoming homeless,” said happier Feroza.

Deputy Director of Bangladesh Rural Development Board Abdus Sabur said 93,433 poor people have so far improved livelihoods utilising training, assistance and micro-credits under the “Ekti Bari, Ekti Khamar (EBEK)” project alone in the district.

 

Social safety net effectively improves livelihoods of poor

RANGPUR: Successful implementation of the massive social safety net programmes (SSNPs) has effectively improved livelihoods of the poor bringing them out of vicious cycle of poverty in the district, reports BSS. According to officials and development experts, the government is implementing SSNPs as priority initiatives of Prime Minsiter Sheikh Hasina through GO-NGO collaboration to ensure social security of poor, backward and underprivileged people. The SSNPs have improved livelihoods and economic conditions of the poor who are leading normal life now though they lived in miseries even a decade ago, said Monjushree Saha, director (Development Programme) of RDRS Bangladesh. The Asrayan Prakalpa, micro-credits, training for income generations, allowances for divorcees, poor pregnant women, lactating mothers, elderly citizens and disabled people, education assistance, rehabilitation and other SSNPs are playing vital role, Monju said. According to district administration sources, the main SSNPs include Test Relief (TR), Food for Work (FFW), Works for Taka (Kabita), Vulnerable Group Development (VGD), Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF), providing shelters and various allowances. Under the Asrayan Prokalpo, 4,390 homeless families improved livelihoods after their rehabilitation so far at 494 barrack houses under 39 projects in the district, said Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) AKM Maruf Hasan. Rehabilitated Feroza Khatun at Purbo Kochua-1 Asrayan Prokalpo in Gangachara upazila here said her family became homeless 17-year back when the Teesta devoured everything in nearby Purbo Kochua Fakirpara village. I, along with my husband Alef Uddin, our son Sirajul and daughter Arjuma lived on the lands of others, highlands and flood control embankments, passed miserable days and also starved amid uncertainty, Feroza said. Everything started changing after the family got shelter there in 1997 to begin new life as the then government of Sheikh Hasina completed its construction during her previous 1996-2001 tenure. They received micro-credits of Taka 6,000, 10,000 and 15,000 from Upazila Cooperative Office in three phases, bought cows, opened grocery shop, bought cultivable land that gives three crops a year and completed loan payments through weekly installments. We are now leading solvent life with sanitation and pure drinking water facilities having assets worth Taka five lakh and arranged marriage of our daughter though we had nothing after becoming homeless, said happier Feroza. Deputy Director of Bangladesh Rural Development Board Abdus Sabur said 93,433 poor people have so far improved livelihoods utilising training, assistance and micro-credits under the Ekti Bari, Ekti Khamar (EBEK) project alone in the district.