BSS, Rangpur :
Eradication of seasonal ‘monga’ has taken permanent shape setting up a shining example of combating extreme poverty successfully in recent years by the present government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Earlier, ‘monga’, a famine-like situation, caused untold miseries to the poorer section people in Rangpur region during lean periods of Aswin and Kartik months even a decade ago.
According to the experts, researchers, NGO executives, public representatives and officials, the poor have been passing Aswin and Kartik months without experiencing any bite of seasonal ‘monga’ and leading normal life during the past six years.
Development specialist and Head of Programme Coordination of RDRS Bangladesh Monjusree Saha said ‘monga’ has been eradicated permanently following successful implementation of the government’s comprehensive social safety net programmes.
She said the easy-term and interest-free loans, allowances,training for unemployed male and female youths for income generations, assistance of government, NGOs, donor agencies and development partners played important roles in eradicating ‘monga.’
Executive Director of Rangpur-based research organisation Northbengal Institute of Development Studies Dr Syed Samsuzzaman said life standard of the poor has improved now because of their engagements with various income generating activities.
Monga’ has disappeared as a result of the decisive political will and various effective steps taken by the government towards the directions in eradicating the seasonal curse permanently during the past six to seven years, he added.
Social worker and valiant freedom fighter Akbar Hossain said the poor have achieved success through small-scale enterprises, cottage industries, sewing garments, waving, homestead farming, pisciculture, rearing poultry birds, animals and many other ventures.
Noted rice scientist and Associate Director- Agriculture of BRAC International (South Asia and Africa) Dr MA Mazid said expanded cultivation and early harvest of the short duration rice varieties has also been playing key role in ‘monga’ eradication.
“Thousands of farm-and day-labourers get adequate jobs in crop fields following large-scale farming of short duration Aman rice as its harvest continues throughout the peak ‘monga’ hours of Aswin and Kartik creating huge jobs for them,” he added.
District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer of Rangpur Abdus Salam said the government implements comprehensive social safety- net programmes like employment generation and provides allowances, VGF, VGD, TR and FFW those eradicated the seasonal curse.
As a result of successful implementation of these social safety- net programmes, the poor did not experience any ‘monga’ following significant improvement of their socioeconomic condition and life standard during the six four years, he said.
Talking to BSS, Taramon Bibi, Bir Pratik said the poor have started enjoying the fruit of hard-earned independence as none of them, including those living in poverty- prone char areas, had to stave for a single day during the past six years.
She specially thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for turning her words true through realising her pre-election pledge of freeing the poverty-prone people of Rangpur region from extreme poverty through eradicating monga permanently.
“It makes me very happy when I see children of the poor families are now going to the schools following huge change in their socioeconomic condition through they had to live under abject poverty even a decade ago,” she added.
Chilmari upazila chairman Shawkat Ali Sarker, Bir Bikram, said economic condition of the poor has improved during the past six years in the region where the poor lived amid abject poverty with their children and family members even a decade ago.
Chairman of Astomirchar union in Chilmari upazila Sohrab Hossain said none can find adolescents now as domestic help in char areas following improvement of socioeconomic conditions though they were easily available in dozens even a decade years ago.
Social experts Shahidul Islam and Akternunnahar Saki, Professor Sadek Ali and senior journalist Rafique Sarker said there is no scope for ‘monga’ to reappear as the government still continues massive programmes for maintaining the success.
Eradication of seasonal ‘monga’ has taken permanent shape setting up a shining example of combating extreme poverty successfully in recent years by the present government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Earlier, ‘monga’, a famine-like situation, caused untold miseries to the poorer section people in Rangpur region during lean periods of Aswin and Kartik months even a decade ago.
According to the experts, researchers, NGO executives, public representatives and officials, the poor have been passing Aswin and Kartik months without experiencing any bite of seasonal ‘monga’ and leading normal life during the past six years.
Development specialist and Head of Programme Coordination of RDRS Bangladesh Monjusree Saha said ‘monga’ has been eradicated permanently following successful implementation of the government’s comprehensive social safety net programmes.
She said the easy-term and interest-free loans, allowances,training for unemployed male and female youths for income generations, assistance of government, NGOs, donor agencies and development partners played important roles in eradicating ‘monga.’
Executive Director of Rangpur-based research organisation Northbengal Institute of Development Studies Dr Syed Samsuzzaman said life standard of the poor has improved now because of their engagements with various income generating activities.
Monga’ has disappeared as a result of the decisive political will and various effective steps taken by the government towards the directions in eradicating the seasonal curse permanently during the past six to seven years, he added.
Social worker and valiant freedom fighter Akbar Hossain said the poor have achieved success through small-scale enterprises, cottage industries, sewing garments, waving, homestead farming, pisciculture, rearing poultry birds, animals and many other ventures.
Noted rice scientist and Associate Director- Agriculture of BRAC International (South Asia and Africa) Dr MA Mazid said expanded cultivation and early harvest of the short duration rice varieties has also been playing key role in ‘monga’ eradication.
“Thousands of farm-and day-labourers get adequate jobs in crop fields following large-scale farming of short duration Aman rice as its harvest continues throughout the peak ‘monga’ hours of Aswin and Kartik creating huge jobs for them,” he added.
District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer of Rangpur Abdus Salam said the government implements comprehensive social safety- net programmes like employment generation and provides allowances, VGF, VGD, TR and FFW those eradicated the seasonal curse.
As a result of successful implementation of these social safety- net programmes, the poor did not experience any ‘monga’ following significant improvement of their socioeconomic condition and life standard during the six four years, he said.
Talking to BSS, Taramon Bibi, Bir Pratik said the poor have started enjoying the fruit of hard-earned independence as none of them, including those living in poverty- prone char areas, had to stave for a single day during the past six years.
She specially thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for turning her words true through realising her pre-election pledge of freeing the poverty-prone people of Rangpur region from extreme poverty through eradicating monga permanently.
“It makes me very happy when I see children of the poor families are now going to the schools following huge change in their socioeconomic condition through they had to live under abject poverty even a decade ago,” she added.
Chilmari upazila chairman Shawkat Ali Sarker, Bir Bikram, said economic condition of the poor has improved during the past six years in the region where the poor lived amid abject poverty with their children and family members even a decade ago.
Chairman of Astomirchar union in Chilmari upazila Sohrab Hossain said none can find adolescents now as domestic help in char areas following improvement of socioeconomic conditions though they were easily available in dozens even a decade years ago.
Social experts Shahidul Islam and Akternunnahar Saki, Professor Sadek Ali and senior journalist Rafique Sarker said there is no scope for ‘monga’ to reappear as the government still continues massive programmes for maintaining the success.
