RANGPUR, July 04, 2018 (BSS) – Most of the 200 rehabilitated families at
Osmanpur Khamarerdanga Asrayan project in Badarganj upazila of the district
have become self-reliant through various income generations activities
overcoming economic vulnerability.
The beneficiary people, who lost all hopes and led miserable life in past
a few years ago, also have made good savings and assets after improving their
livelihoods by taking advantages of the project.
Talking to BSS,rehabilitated couple Ashraful Islam, 45, and his wife
Sabina Yasmin, 40, said once they were homeless.
They struggled a lot for survival for a decade ago untill their
rehabilitation at the Asrayan project along with other 199 homeless families
of the area in 2006.
“The Badarganj Upazila Cooperative Office through the local cooperative
society first provided me with Taka 8,000 as interest-free loan in 2009 when
I purchased a heifer and opened a grocery shop,” Ashraful said.
After paying the loans in 45 weekly installments, he got Taka 12,000 for
the second time.
“I regularly paid the loans and got Taka 20,000 for the third time and
Taka 20,000 for the fourth time so far,” Ashraful said, adding that he
purchased a heifer and increased investment in grocery shop every time.
“Now, I have 10 cattle-head, including three milk-giving cows with
furniture, television and solar panel,” he said, adding that he has built a
semi-pucca house and set up a dairy farm.
“Value of my total assets and properties may be around Taka 20-lakh now.
My only son Sabbir and only daughter Armina are studying in class nine and
class seven respectively in a local high school,” Ashraful said.
Rehabilitated another couple Abdul Motaleb, 66, and his wife Suruza Begum,
55, said they got Taka 8,000 as revolving micro-credit in 2009 and purchased
a heifer.
“After that I took money several times as loans till 2017 and purchased a
heifer every time,” Motaleb said, adding that he also assisted his son-in-law
Humayun to establish a poultry farm in nearby Beltoli Bazar.
“Now, we have well-furnished house with television, solar panel, four
cows, 20 decimals of land which was taken on lease and other properties worth
Taka 12-lakh,” said Suruza Begum.
Beneficiary Tahuza Begum, 45, said she got Taka 8,000 in 2009 and Taka
10,000 in 2011.
Tahuza’s husband Jahangir Alam earns Taka 250 daily by pulling a rental
rickshaw.
Tahuza married off her two daughters Shahnaz and Shahinoor spending Taka
two-lakh last year and she bears educational expenses of her sons Tozmul
(Intermediate) and Rabiul (class five) now.
“I have three cows, 12 chickens, a solar panel, furniture, 10 decimals
cultivable land taken on lease and other properties worth Taka six lakh,” she
said.
“I will purchase a rickshaw for my husband after getting the next loan,”
Tahuza said and thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for providing them with
shelters at the Asrayan project and new opportunity to lead a beautiful life.
Talking to BSS, Badarganj Upazila Cooperative Officer Shamsunnahar Begum
said 200 homeless families were rehabilitated at Osmanpur Khamarerdanga
Asrayan project in 2006.
“Later, adult members of the rehabilitated families were provided with
necessary trainings by local government departments to enhance their
awareness and expertise before disbursing micro-credits to them for income-
generation works,” she said.
“We have disbursed Taka 14.92-lakh as revolving micro-credits to the
families in the Asrayan project and many of them became self-reliant,” she
added.