RANGPUR, Oct 12, 2019 (BSS) – Like in the previous seasons, raised plinths
of houses again assisted many char households in escaping recent floods
effectively in low-lying char areas on the Brahmaputra basin this year.
The plinths were raised to save char people with properties and domestic
animals from floods under the 12-year term (2004-2016) comprehensive Chars
Livelihoods Program (CLP) to assist them in becoming self-reliant under
adverse situations.
Officials concerned said the UKaid through Department for International
Development and Australian Government through AusAID funded implementation of
the CLP under sponsorship of the Rural Development and Cooperatives Division.
Like in the previous years, the CLP beneficiary families successfully
escaped floods along with providing shelters to other displaced flood-hit
people of neighbouring inundated char areas during recent flood.
The multi-dimensional CLP was implemented by different NGOs beginning with
plinth-raising to assist char people in adapting to adverse situations amid
changing climate to improve livelihoods.
The CLP raised plinths of over 1.33 char households benefiting over 5.17-
lakh people on char areas in Kurigram, Bogra, Gaibandha, Sirajganj, Jamalpur,
Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Pabna and Tangail districts.
Talking to BSS, Senior Coordinator (Agriculture and Environment) Mamunur
Rashid of RDRS Bangladesh, one of the CLP implementing partner organisations,
said the project is assisting char people in escaping floods and adapting to
changing climate.
The beneficiary char families are enjoying the privilege and changing fortune
through various income generating activities (IGAs) following implementation
of CLP in these ten northwestern riverine districts.
“Successful implementation of the CLP has become a blessing for 1.33 lakh
poor char households in escaping floods and improving their livelihoods and
living standard,” Rashid said.
Talking to BSS, beneficiaries Aklima, Abbas Ali, Karim Uddin, Nuru Mian
and Bulbuli Begum of different char villages in Rangpur and Kurigram narrated
as how they escaped floods during rainy seasons when other surrounding areas
became submerged.
Beneficiary Rahela Khatun of Purbo Char Gunai village on the Teesta
riverbed in Kawnia upazila of Rangpur said she raised plinths first with the
CLP assistance to become safe from wraths of seasonal floods.
Later, she established sanitary latrines and tube wells for pure drinking
water with the CLP grants to get rid of water borne diseases also bought
goats and cattle heads and homestead vegetable gardening on her raised
plinths.
“Like me, the CLP beneficiary char families are saving properties,
domestic animals and poultry birds during floods on raised plinths,” said
Rahela adding that they are cultivating vegetables on raised tiny homesteads
after recession of floodwater.
CLP beneficiary Kulsum Begum said families of Purbo Char Gunai village are
now easily escaping floods on raised plinths though they used to take shelter
during floods in neighboring areas and the displacements caused losses to
their essentials and assets.
Similarly, CLP beneficiaries Kajoli Begum and Sahera Begum of Ghughumari
Char in Roumari upazila and Halima Begum of Char Krishnapur in Chilmari
upazila of Kurigram termed plinth-raising as their effective savior during
floods.
“We remained safe with our properties, essentials and cattle-heads and
also helped our neighbours providing shelters during recent floods on our
raised plinths like in the previous years,” said Sahera.
Talking to BSS, Chilmari upazila chairman Shawkat Ali Sarker, Bir Bikram,
said the plinth- raising program has become effective to escape floods by
char people along with improving their livelihoods through various IGAs under
adverse situations.
“Side by side with escaping floods during the rainy seasons, the CLP
beneficiary char families are rearing domestic animals, poultry birds and
cultivating vegetables, fruits on raised homesteads to change their fortune
round the year,” Sarker added.