BSS, Rangpur :
Hundreds of the rehabilitated river-eroded families at 22 Asrayan Prokalpo here have set up example in ensuring proper use and re-payments of cooperative micro-credit loans after achieving self-reliance.
The micro-credit loans along with other assistance being provided by the government under the project have been changing fortune of the rehabilitated 2,160 river-eroded destitute families in these projects in recent years.
After providing permanent shelters, address, training, input and support, the local government departments have provided micro-credit loans to the rehabilitated families for alleviating poverty to regain new life through income generation activities.
According to official sources, the project has become effective in making the rehabilitated river-eroded people self-reliant through proper use of the micro-credit under the government’s comprehensive social safety-net programmes.
Sources in the district administration said construction of 249 tin-shed barrack houses under 22 projects out of targeted 35 have been completed and 2,160 floating families rehabilitated in all eight upazilas here since 1997.
Like other beneficiaries, 90 rehabilitated families at Purbo Kochua-1 Asrayan Prokalpo in Nohali union under Gangachara upazila have set up a glaring example in cooperative micro-credit loan payments after achieving self-reliance.
Side by side with becoming self-reliant, the 90 rehabilitated river-eroded homeless families in nine barracks there have made own assets through income generating activities with proper utilisation of micro-credit.
Talking to BSS, the rehabilitated inhabitants said they got back new life, address, ensured livelihoods and dream of brighter future for children following implementation of the comprehensive social safety-net programmes by the government.
They have got training, input and support from local government departments and Upazila Cooperative Office has been providing revolving interest-free micro-credit at only eight percent service charge rate for income generating activities.
“We are making profits to raise our capitals through small-scale business, animal husbandry, poultry, tree plantation, vegetables and fruit farming at homesteads,” said couple Nazrul and Bulbuli rehabilitated under the programme.
Couple Alef Uddin and Feroza said they became homeless fifteen years back along with many others as the Teesta devoured everything they had in nearby village Purbo Kochua Fakirpara.
They narrated their miserable days passed for years amid uncertainty with son Sirajul, 20, and daughter Arjuma Khatun, 18, on the lands of others and flood control embankments.
“But, everything changed when we got shelter at Purbo Kochua-1 Asrayan Prokalpo to begin new life as the then government of Sheikh Hasina completed its construction during her previous 1996-2001 tenure,” they said.
After providing necessary training, Upazila Cooperative Office formed Purbo Kochua Asrayan Phase-2 Project Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited and provided them with Taka 6,000 micro-credit to every rehabilitated family.
“We first bought a heifer, opened a grocery shop and completed loan payments through 45 weekly installments to get Taka 10,000 micro-credit again when we took lease of seven decimal cultivable lands that give three crops annually,” they said.
They again got Taka 15,000 cooperative micro-credit for the third time after paying all 45 weekly installments, completed marriage of their daughter, purchased a cow and made investment rest of the amount in grocery shop.
Couple Moshiur Rahman and Anichha Begum said they purchased a heifer and an old shallow machine after getting Taka 6,000 cooperative micro-credit 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 micro-credit after completing payments of their successive loans.
Hundreds of the rehabilitated river-eroded families at 22 Asrayan Prokalpo here have set up example in ensuring proper use and re-payments of cooperative micro-credit loans after achieving self-reliance.
The micro-credit loans along with other assistance being provided by the government under the project have been changing fortune of the rehabilitated 2,160 river-eroded destitute families in these projects in recent years.
After providing permanent shelters, address, training, input and support, the local government departments have provided micro-credit loans to the rehabilitated families for alleviating poverty to regain new life through income generation activities.
According to official sources, the project has become effective in making the rehabilitated river-eroded people self-reliant through proper use of the micro-credit under the government’s comprehensive social safety-net programmes.
Sources in the district administration said construction of 249 tin-shed barrack houses under 22 projects out of targeted 35 have been completed and 2,160 floating families rehabilitated in all eight upazilas here since 1997.
Like other beneficiaries, 90 rehabilitated families at Purbo Kochua-1 Asrayan Prokalpo in Nohali union under Gangachara upazila have set up a glaring example in cooperative micro-credit loan payments after achieving self-reliance.
Side by side with becoming self-reliant, the 90 rehabilitated river-eroded homeless families in nine barracks there have made own assets through income generating activities with proper utilisation of micro-credit.
Talking to BSS, the rehabilitated inhabitants said they got back new life, address, ensured livelihoods and dream of brighter future for children following implementation of the comprehensive social safety-net programmes by the government.
They have got training, input and support from local government departments and Upazila Cooperative Office has been providing revolving interest-free micro-credit at only eight percent service charge rate for income generating activities.
“We are making profits to raise our capitals through small-scale business, animal husbandry, poultry, tree plantation, vegetables and fruit farming at homesteads,” said couple Nazrul and Bulbuli rehabilitated under the programme.
Couple Alef Uddin and Feroza said they became homeless fifteen years back along with many others as the Teesta devoured everything they had in nearby village Purbo Kochua Fakirpara.
They narrated their miserable days passed for years amid uncertainty with son Sirajul, 20, and daughter Arjuma Khatun, 18, on the lands of others and flood control embankments.
“But, everything changed when we got shelter at Purbo Kochua-1 Asrayan Prokalpo to begin new life as the then government of Sheikh Hasina completed its construction during her previous 1996-2001 tenure,” they said.
After providing necessary training, Upazila Cooperative Office formed Purbo Kochua Asrayan Phase-2 Project Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited and provided them with Taka 6,000 micro-credit to every rehabilitated family.
“We first bought a heifer, opened a grocery shop and completed loan payments through 45 weekly installments to get Taka 10,000 micro-credit again when we took lease of seven decimal cultivable lands that give three crops annually,” they said.
They again got Taka 15,000 cooperative micro-credit for the third time after paying all 45 weekly installments, completed marriage of their daughter, purchased a cow and made investment rest of the amount in grocery shop.
Couple Moshiur Rahman and Anichha Begum said they purchased a heifer and an old shallow machine after getting Taka 6,000 cooperative micro-credit 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 micro-credit after completing payments of their successive loans.
