GAIBANDHA, Jan 14, 2020 (BSS) – Maintenance works of local government
properties under Strengthening Women’s Ability for Productive New
Opportunities (SWAPNO) project began at Fulchhari and Shaghata upazilas here
yesterday simultaneously amid much enthusiasm to the concerned.
An inaugural function organized by Udakhali union parishad of Fulchhari
upazila was held at South Burail village of the union on Monday afternoon
with the financial support of marico, Sweden and UNDP.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Abdul Matin addressed the function as chief
guest and deputy director (DD) of Local Government Section of DC office
Rokhsana Begum and Fulchhari UNO Abu Raihan Dolon was present as special
guests.
Presided over by Udakhali UP chairman Anwar Hossain, the function was
also addressed, among others, by regional coordinator of the project from
UNDP Ahmedul Kabir Akond, coordinator of Gana Unnayan Kendra Aftab Hossain
and Kanchipara UP chairman Liton Miah.
The speakers said a total of 612 widows, divorced, abandoned and ultra-
poor female workers of the upazials had been selected through lottery and
then involved in the SWAPNO project to help earn economical profit to change
their lots gradually.
The beneficiaries would be engaged in income generating activities
(IGAs) day by day and for this, they would be also imparted training on IGAs
regularly so that they would be self-reliant economically and play vital role
to build poverty and hunger free society, they added.
DC Abdul Matin said each of the beneficiaries would get Taka 200 against
the work per day and of them, Taka 50 would be cut for their savings which
they would get at a time and utilize it for income generating activities like
cow, goat, sheep rearing and poultry farming.
The DC also asked the beneficiary women of the project to do earth
cutting and filling works on the roads five hours and participate in life
skills training one hour every working day as per the schedule of the
project.
The DC also sought whole hearted cooperation of all the upazila
chairmen, UNOs, UP chairmen and secretaries of the project command areas and
other stakeholders of the society to monitor the project properly and make it
fruitful and successful for its further expansion in other parts of the
district.
DD of Local Government Section here Rokhsana Begum said respective union
parishads of the upazilas would implement the project in partnership with a
local reputed non-government organization Gana Unnanyan Kendra (GUK) for the
term of one year and a quarter.