RANGPUR, April 29, 2021 (BSS) – The ongoing second-phase of the Employment Generation Project for the Poorest (EGPP) at Taka 22.42 crore is largely benefiting the poor in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic situation in Rangpur district.
Each of the beneficiary 28,025 ultra poor and distressed people, including women, is earning wages of Taka 200 per day per head through their respective bank accounts for six days in a week to lead a better life successfully tackling the pandemic situation.
District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO) of Rangpur ATM Akhteruzzaman said the implementation of infrastructural development works are progressing fast under the EGPP creating jobs for the poor and their livelihoods in all eight upazilas of the district.
The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief has allocated Taka 22.42 crore under the second phase of the EGPP to create jobs for 28,025 poor people under the government’s social safety networks to improve their livelihoods in Rangpur district.
Under the programme, each of the card-holder beneficiaries, including distressed women, is working six-day in a week to earn Taka 8,000 as wages per head for their 40-day works during the two-month period till the next month.
“Each of the beneficiaries is getting weekly wages of Taka 1,200 for six days on Thursdays excluding little savings through their own bank accounts opened at Taka 10 at the local branches of the commercial banks in a hassle-free manner,” the DRRO said.
Talking to BSS, beneficiaries Reazul Karim and Moksedul Islam of village Puthimari, Mohiton Nesa of village Khollapara and Salek of village Boikanthopur in Chandanpat union of Sadar upazila said the EGPP is helping them effectively.
Similarly, beneficiaries Mubarak Hossain, Sarika Rani, Mahmuda Begum, Lutfun Nahar and Bulbuli of different villages in the district said the EGPP programme is assisting them in earning wages to lead a normal life despite the COVID-19 pandemic situation.
Chairman of Chandanpat union Amenur Rahman told BSS that a total 241 beneficiary distressed and poor men and women are engaged in implementing various infrastructural development works in rural areas of the union under the EGPP.
Similarly, 266 beneficiary men and women are earning Taka 200 per day for six days in a week through implementing infrastructural development works in rural areas of nearby Haridebpur union under the EGPP to lead a better life despite the pandemic situation.
Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Md. Jakir Hossain said the ongoing EGPP is effectively assisting the poor in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic situation now to lead a better life in Rangpur district and the division as whole.
Adequate steps have been taken for ensuring complete accountability, transparency in the whole process of proper implementation of the special EGPP in Rangpur district as well as in Rangpur division.
“The second phase of the EGPP programme is simultaneously being implemented smoothly in all other seven districts of Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha and Kurigram of Rangpur division,” he added.