RANGPUR, Sept 6, 2019 (BSS) – Successful implementation of the massive
social safety net programmes (SSNPs), one of the ten special initiatives of
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is bringing the poor out of poverty cycle in
the district.
According to officials and experts, thousands of poor families are leading
normal life overcoming economic vulnerability and improving their
socioeconomic conditions and living standard in last ten years.
“The government is implementing SSNPs to ensure social security,
livelihoods and food security of the poor, backward, marginalised and
underprivileged people,” Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Md.
Zakir Hossain said.
The SSNPs include employment generation project for the poorest, test
relief, food for work and work for money, vulnerable group development (VGD)
and vulnerable group feeding (VGF) programmes, Asrayan Prokalpo and many
other programmes.
Chairman of Rangpur-based research organisation Northbengal Institute of
Development Studies Dr, Syed Samsuzzaman, said successful implementation of
massive SSNPs has improved livelihoods of the poor in the district.
“The income generating activities (IGAs) with supports of the SSNPs have
improved economic conditions of the poor bringing them out of poverty cycle
in last ten years,” added Samsuzzaman.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Sharif Md. Foyezul Kabir said over
4,500 homeless families have improved their living standard after their
rehabilitation in all eight upazilas in the district under the Asrayan
Prokalpo alone.
Talking to BSS, rehabilitated couple Abu Bakar and Dulali at Chengmari-2
Asrayan Prokalpo in Gangachara upazila said they became homeless since the
Teesta eroded their house several times.
Rehabilitated couple Anwarul Islam and Mariyam, Masud Rana, Nurul Amin,
Mofizul Islam and Shekel Banu there said their houses were eroded up to 12
times over the years.
“After rehabilitation, we got government assistance under the SSNPs to
become engaged in IGAs and all of us are now earning well to lead happier
life,” said Abu Bakar.
Shekel Banu said all rehabilitated families have cows, goats, poultry
birds, homestead garden, kitchen, sanitary latrine and many other facilities
and their children are going to schools.
Around one-lakh poor families have improved livelihoods through various
IGAs utilising training, assistance and micro-credits under the recently
renamed “Amar Bari, Amar Khamar (ABAK) project under the SSNPs in the
district.
Beneficiary of the ABAK project Alifa Begum of Kursha Balorampur village
of Sadar upazila said she got interest-free loans Taka 10,000, Taka 15,000
and Taka 30,000 in various phases since 2012.
After getting loans, she purchased heifers, goats and sheep with
assistance of her husband Amjad Hossain.
“I have nine cows, 12 goats and 17 sheep, two acres cultivable land taken
on lease along with other assets worth Taka ten lakh to lead solvent life now
with my family members,” Alifa said.
District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer ATM Akhteruzzaman said massive
uplifts under SSNPs were implemented spending huge food grains in addition to
employment generations and distribution of VGF rice among the poor in last
ten years.
Deputy Director of the District Women Affairs Office Kawser Parveen said
over 60,000 lakh tonnes of VGD food grains were distributed among destitute
women, allowances among poor pregnant women, lactating mothers and loans
among trained women.
“Over 9,500 women have achieved self-reliance in last ten years through
various IGAs and properly utilising allowances and food assistance
distributed among them to cut poverty and lead improved life in the
district,” she added.
Deputy Director of the he Department of Youth Development Md. Dilgir Alam
said his department provided training to unemployed youths on various trades
and disbursed loans to make them self-reliant in last ten years.
“Over 4,500 trained youths have become self-reliant and many others are on
way to achieve similar successes through IGAs under the government’s SSNPs in
the district,” Alam added.
Associate Professor of Begum Rokeya University Dr. Tuhin Wadud said the
massive SSNPs are playing the key role in improving living standard of the
poor in the district.