A poverty alleviation project of the government under Polli Daridro Bimochon Foundation (PDBF) of the Rural Development and Cooperatives Division has created 12 lakh employments for the rural people in 20 districts of the country.
“PDBF has been implementing a project involving Taka 334.2435 crore aiming to provide employment to12 lakh people under 100 upazila of 20 districts in the first phase ,” PDBF Managing Director Madan Mahan Saha told BSS.
The project started in July 2012 and will end in June, 2018, he said, adding that 22,000 beneficiaries have been given training to implement the programme within the scheduled time. Among the beneficiaries, 98 percent are women.
Madan said as part of the government’s poverty reduction programme, the project is being implemented to provide job opportunities to womenfolk to ensure their contribution to the country’s development process.
The project sources said the 20 districts are Rangpur, Kurigram, Nilphamari, Natore, Rajshahi, Sirajganj, Kushtia, Meherpur, Chuadanga, Rajbarai, Faridpur, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Gopalganj, Barguna, Barisal, Patuakhali, Brahmanbaria and Sunamganj.
This employment generation programme will also be implemented in 120 upazilas in second phase, they added.
While talking to BSS, State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Mashiur Rahman Ranga said, “This programme has already been successful as part of the present government’s women empowerment initiatives.”
“We have attached the highest priority to the successful implementation of the programme to fulfill targets of SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals,” he said, adding “The government will implement such programmes in 400 upazilas under 52 districts in phases to empower women in society economically.”
