RAJSHAHI, Jan 21, 2020 (BSS) – Some 82 youths including 40 females coming
from ethnic minority families were given different income-generating tools
including cash taka aimed at boosting their level of confidence through
making them self-reliant.
Of them, 30 received sewing machines, 20 electric instruments, 10
instruments for building construction and two hair cutting apparatus while 20
others were given Taka 2,000 in cash each for cattle fattening.
Earlier on, they were imparted practical training on the respective trades
and vocations so that they can earn money after the best uses of the training
and tools as alternative income sources.
The supports were given on behalf of an anti-poverty initiative at a
function held at Nachole Upazila Parishad Hall Room in Chapainawabganj
district today.
Agriculture Sustainable and Socio-economic Development Organization
(ASSEDO) and Tradecraft Exchange are jointly implementing the scheme in
association with ‘Fighting Forced Labour with Adivasi and Dalit Communities
in South Asia (MUKTEE) Project’ and European Union.
Upazila Chairman Abdul Kader and ASSEDO Executive Director Rabiul Alam
attended the function as chief and special guests respectively with Upazila
Nirbahi Officer Sabiha Sultana in the chair and distributed the supportive
instruments.
Nachole Pourashava Chairman Abdur Rashid Khan, Deputy Director of the
Department of Youth Development Jabed Iqbal, Agriculture Officer Bulbul
Ahmed, Livestock Officer Sharmin Akter and Union Parishad Chairmen Aminul
Haque and Azizur Rahman were present at the ceremony.
Rabiul Alam told the meeting that around 4,000 ethnic minority youths
including 2,000 women have been engaged in various income-generating
activities in 50 villages of Tanore in Rajshahi and Nachole Upazilas in
Chapainawabganj districts with the MUKTEE Project intervention. A total of
1000 people from 2000 households are being brought under need-based training
on various trades and vocations like electrics, mobile, mechanic, sewing,
tailoring, computer operating, beautification, driving, carpentry and
building construction in phases.
He said the project is aimed to address the systemic and structural
vulnerabilities of marginalized agricultural communities for eliminating the
menace of child labour.