UNB, Dhaka :
Poor, landless and destitute families affected by river erosion would be given financial aid based on losses suffered and number of family members.
The authorities decided to provide a lump sum of Tk 75,000 to erosion-affected families who have six dependent members. Families with five members will get Tk 60,000 while four-member families will get Tk 50,000 financial aid to survive adverse situation.
Sources at the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief confirmed the information, saying the Rehabilitation Aid Project of the Prime Minister would finance the scheme.
Tk 100 crore was allocated in the recent budget as special grant for erosion-affected people as per directive of the Prime Minister.
The process of implementation of the scheme began after the Finance Ministry’s budget section-1 issued a letter to the Disaster Management and Relief Department secretary on October 24.
The scheme was undertaken to help rehabilitate people whose homesteads were lost or damaged due to river erosion and are struggling to survive economic hardship.
Besides, the project is aimed at ensuring security of women, children and handicapped, extending social security belt for them and creating positive impact on poverty alleviation.
The authorities would provide rehabilitation aid in three categories – poor, landless and destitute families. Families with monthly income of Tk 15,000 or less will be considered as poor while families with 0.05 decimal land or less will be considered as landless and families with no earning member, insolvent, freedom fighter, handicapped, widowed, ethnic minority, eunuch, and bohemians will be considered destitute.
According to the approved precis of the Finance Ministry’s budget section, which has recently been sent to the Prime Minister, the scheme would be implemented under the supervision of the Department of Disaster Management of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.
It was also learned that the aid money will be allocated to Upazila Nirbahi Officers of the most vulnerable upazilas through iBAS++ system as per their requirements. Later, they would distribute it among families affected by erosion.
The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief will be responsible for the overall inspection, evaluation and monitoring of the Rehabilitation Aid Scheme. Besides, a steering committee at central level, beneficiary selection committees at Upazilas, implementation committees at municipalities and unions would oversee the scheme.
According to Disaster Management and Relief Ministry, Upazilas which are in very risky condition due to Padma River erosion are – Nawabganj and Dohar of Dhaka, Tongibari and Louhajang upazilas of Munsiganj, Shivalaya and Harirampur Upazilas of Manikganj, Charbhadrasan and Sadar upazilas of Faridpur, Shibchar upazila of Madaripur, Goalanda and Sadar Upazilas of Rajbari, Charghat, Bagha and Sadar upazilas of Rajshahi, Sadar and Shibganj upazilas of Chapainawabganj, and Damudya, Naria, Zajira and Gosairhat Upazilas of Shariatpur.
Apart from these, Shibaloy and Daulatpur of Manikganj; Bhuapur and Nagarpur upazilas of Tangail; Chauhali, Belkuchi, Shahjadpur, Kazipur and Sadar upazilas of Sirajganj; Bera and Sujanagar Upazilas of Pabna; Sariakandi upazila of Bogura; Fulchhari upazila of Gaibandha; Dewanganj, Islampur and Madarganj upazilas of Jamalpur are in danger due to Jamuna river erosion.
Bhedarganj upazila of Shariatpur; Haimchar and Sadar upazilas of Chandpur; Subarnachar and Hatiya of Noakhali; Ramgati, Kamalnagar and Sadar upazilas of Laxmipur; Daulatkhan, Tazumuddin, Lalmohan and Manpura upazilas of Bhola; Mehediganj and Hizla upazilas of Barishal; and Astagram of Kishorganj are in danger due to erosion by Meghna River.
Gangachara and Kaunia upazilas of Rangpur; Aditmari, Kaliganj and Sadar upazilas of Lalmonirhat are in danger for Teesta river erosion while Chilmari, Char Rajibpur, Rumari and Phulbari upazilas of Kurigram are facing danger due to erosion by the Teesta.
Every year, approximately 68,000 people, who live on river banks, are being displaced because of erosion, according to the government.
Poor, landless and destitute families affected by river erosion would be given financial aid based on losses suffered and number of family members.
The authorities decided to provide a lump sum of Tk 75,000 to erosion-affected families who have six dependent members. Families with five members will get Tk 60,000 while four-member families will get Tk 50,000 financial aid to survive adverse situation.
Sources at the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief confirmed the information, saying the Rehabilitation Aid Project of the Prime Minister would finance the scheme.
Tk 100 crore was allocated in the recent budget as special grant for erosion-affected people as per directive of the Prime Minister.
The process of implementation of the scheme began after the Finance Ministry’s budget section-1 issued a letter to the Disaster Management and Relief Department secretary on October 24.
The scheme was undertaken to help rehabilitate people whose homesteads were lost or damaged due to river erosion and are struggling to survive economic hardship.
Besides, the project is aimed at ensuring security of women, children and handicapped, extending social security belt for them and creating positive impact on poverty alleviation.
The authorities would provide rehabilitation aid in three categories – poor, landless and destitute families. Families with monthly income of Tk 15,000 or less will be considered as poor while families with 0.05 decimal land or less will be considered as landless and families with no earning member, insolvent, freedom fighter, handicapped, widowed, ethnic minority, eunuch, and bohemians will be considered destitute.
According to the approved precis of the Finance Ministry’s budget section, which has recently been sent to the Prime Minister, the scheme would be implemented under the supervision of the Department of Disaster Management of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.
It was also learned that the aid money will be allocated to Upazila Nirbahi Officers of the most vulnerable upazilas through iBAS++ system as per their requirements. Later, they would distribute it among families affected by erosion.
The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief will be responsible for the overall inspection, evaluation and monitoring of the Rehabilitation Aid Scheme. Besides, a steering committee at central level, beneficiary selection committees at Upazilas, implementation committees at municipalities and unions would oversee the scheme.
According to Disaster Management and Relief Ministry, Upazilas which are in very risky condition due to Padma River erosion are – Nawabganj and Dohar of Dhaka, Tongibari and Louhajang upazilas of Munsiganj, Shivalaya and Harirampur Upazilas of Manikganj, Charbhadrasan and Sadar upazilas of Faridpur, Shibchar upazila of Madaripur, Goalanda and Sadar Upazilas of Rajbari, Charghat, Bagha and Sadar upazilas of Rajshahi, Sadar and Shibganj upazilas of Chapainawabganj, and Damudya, Naria, Zajira and Gosairhat Upazilas of Shariatpur.
Apart from these, Shibaloy and Daulatpur of Manikganj; Bhuapur and Nagarpur upazilas of Tangail; Chauhali, Belkuchi, Shahjadpur, Kazipur and Sadar upazilas of Sirajganj; Bera and Sujanagar Upazilas of Pabna; Sariakandi upazila of Bogura; Fulchhari upazila of Gaibandha; Dewanganj, Islampur and Madarganj upazilas of Jamalpur are in danger due to Jamuna river erosion.
Bhedarganj upazila of Shariatpur; Haimchar and Sadar upazilas of Chandpur; Subarnachar and Hatiya of Noakhali; Ramgati, Kamalnagar and Sadar upazilas of Laxmipur; Daulatkhan, Tazumuddin, Lalmohan and Manpura upazilas of Bhola; Mehediganj and Hizla upazilas of Barishal; and Astagram of Kishorganj are in danger due to erosion by Meghna River.
Gangachara and Kaunia upazilas of Rangpur; Aditmari, Kaliganj and Sadar upazilas of Lalmonirhat are in danger for Teesta river erosion while Chilmari, Char Rajibpur, Rumari and Phulbari upazilas of Kurigram are facing danger due to erosion by the Teesta.
Every year, approximately 68,000 people, who live on river banks, are being displaced because of erosion, according to the government.
