Ninety rehabilitated river-eroded families at Purbo Kochua-1 Asrayan Prokalpo have changed fortune to lead solvent life after achieving self-reliance now through various income generating activities in recent years.
The rehabilitated inhabitants living in nine barracks there have got new life with own address, livelihoods and hope of brighter future for children following the comprehensive social safety-net programmes being implemented by the government.
All these became possible following successful implementation of the Asrayan Prokalpo cooperative microcredit programme in bringing self-reliance to rehabilitated floating people there in Nohali union under Gangachara upazila in the district.
Talking to BSS, the rehabilitated families at Purbo Kochua-1 Asrayan Prokalpo said that they are fortunate enough to make laudable own assets through income generating activities using the cooperative microcredit and paying back of the same.
They have been getting continuous support from the local government departments and Upazila Cooperative Office has been providing revolving interest-free microcredit loans for enhancing income generating activities to assist them in achieving self-reliance.
Rehabilitated Tobiya Khatun, Nazrul Islam and Bulbuli Begum said they have raised own capitals through small-scale businesses, animal husbandry, poultry, tree plantation, homestead gardening utilising the microcredit and training under the programme.
“We became homeless some twelve years back when the Teesta devoured everything they had in nearby village Purbo Kochua Fakirpara in the same upazila,” said couple Alef Uddin and Feroza Khatun.
They passed miserable days amid uncertainty with son Sirajul, and daughter Arjuma Khatun on the lands of others, highlands and flood control embankments.
“However, everything started changing after we got shelter here to begin new life as the then government of Sheikh Hasina completed its construction during her previous 1996-2001 tenure,” they added.
They said Upazila Cooperative Office formed Purbo Kochua Asrayan Phase-1 Project Multipurpose Cooperative Society Lt, provided training on income generating activities, other issues and Taka 6,000 as microcredit to every rehabilitated family.
“We bought a heifer, opened grocery shop and completed loan payments through 45 weekly installments to get Taka 10,000 microcredit again when we took lease of seven decimals land that gives three crops, including paddy twice a year,” they said.
After paying all 45 weekly installments, they again got Taka 15,000 cooperative microcredit for the third time, completed marriage of their daughter Arjina, purchased more cows and made investment rest of the amount in their grocery shop.
The couple said they are now leading solvent life with sanitation and pure drinking water facilities and having assets worth over Taka 3.20 lakh though they had nothing after becoming homeless following river erosion an era ago.
Rehabilitated Moshiur Rahman and his wife Anichha Begum living there said they purchased a heifer and an old shallow machine after getting Taka 6,000 cooperative microcredit for the first time.
After completing loan payment, they again got Taka 9,000, purchased another cow and 12 decimals cultivable land, again Taka 12,000 and later got Taka 15,000 microcredit after completing payments of their successive loans.
