RANGPUR, Oct 27, 2018 (BSS) – The seasonal joblessness situation- ‘monga’-
has been combated successfully through comprehensive steps of the government
freeing the poor from vicious cycle of extreme poverty permanently in Rangpur
region.
The poor are now leading a better life during the peak ‘monga’ period of
‘Aswin’ and ‘Kartik’ months this time for the tenth consecutive year.
Earlier, they had to lead a miserable life in this seasonal lean period of
the year even a decade ago.
Chairman of Rangpur-based research organisation ‘Northbengal Institute of
Development Studies’ Dr Syed Samsuzzaman said the success was achieved
following implementation of the government’s comprehensive programmes toward
the direction.
“Successful implementation of the government’s massive social safety-net
programmes (SSNPs) along with other efforts effectively helped the poor to
improve their livelihoods in overcoming ‘monga’,” he said.
Test Relief, Food for Work, Works for Taka, Vulnerable Group Development
(VGD), Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) and Employment Generation Project for
the Poorest Projects played a vital role in ensuring food security of the
poor.
“Rehabilitations of homeless people under ‘Asrayan’ and Cluster Village
projects, providing training and micro-credits for income generations
activities (IGAs), allowances and other programmes assisted the poor to
improve livelihoods,” Samsuzzaman added.
Agriculturist Dr Md Abdul Mazid, who got the Independence Award 2018 Medal
(food security) this year, said expanded cultivation of short duration Aman
rice along with implementation of SSNPs played crucial role in combating
‘monga’.
Huge jobs are being created for the poor following early harvest of short
duration Aman rice during ‘Aswin’ and ‘Kartik’ months helping them to earn
better livelihoods driving away ‘monga’ in last 10 years.
“The present government has effectively combated ‘monga’ through
implementation of various programmes and engaging the poor with IGAs to
improve their socioeconomic conditions cutting poverty,” Dr Mazid added.
Deputy director of the Department of Social Services for Rangpur Abdur
Razzaque said his department distributed Taka 953 crore as allowances among
1.21-lakh beneficiaries in Rangpur alone in last 10 years to improve their
livelihoods.
Deputy Director Dilgir Alam of the Department of Youth Development said
32,000 unemployed youths got training, 9,250 of them got Taka 19.15-crore
interest free loans to become self-reliant in Rangpur alone through IGAs in
10 years.
Like other departments, Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB) improved
livelihoods of some 60,000 rural families through the ‘Ekti Bari, Ekti Khamar
(EBEK)’ project alone changing their living standard in Rangpur during the
period.
Deputy director of BRDB for Rangpur Rabeya Sultana said the EBEK project
has made many rural families, small and marginal farmers self-reliant through
various IGAs to overcome extreme poverty.
The families were given training and supports through the Village
Development Samities (VDS) for enhancing skills and capital formation to set
up and run family farms, business and other IGAs.
An EBEK project beneficiary housewife Begum of village Kursha Balorampur in
Rangpur Sadar upazila said she along with her husband and four children were
in hardship even six years ago.
“I started a small cattle farm by taking Taka 10,000 as revolving loan
through local VDS in 2012 and eventually obtained another Taka 18,000 loan in
2014 to increase investment in the cattle business and started farming crops
as sharecropper,” she said.
So far, she purchased 50 decimals of crop land and built a house. Her
family has seven sheep, two cows and other assets worth Taka 3.5 lakh in
addition to their land, house and business.
Like other grassroots public representatives, chairman of Nohali union
parishad in Gangachara upazila of Rangpur Abul Kalam Azad said the SSNPs,
small-scale enterprises, cottage industries, livestock and other IGAs
eradicated ‘monga’ from his union permanently.