City Desk :
Successful implementation of the massive social safety net programmes (SSNPs), one of the ten special initiatives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is bringing the poor out of poverty cycle. According to officials and experts, thousands of poor families are leading normal life overcoming economic vulnerability and improving their socioeconomic conditions and living standard in last ten years. “The government is implementing SSNPs to ensure social security, livelihoods and food security of the poor, backward, marginalised and underprivileged people,” Additional Divisional Commissioner (General), Rangpur Zakir Hossain said.
The SSNPs include employment generation project for the poorest, test relief, food for work and work for money, vulnerable group development (VGD) and vulnerable group feeding (VGF) programmes, Asrayan Prokalpo and many other programmes.
Chairman of Rangpur-based research organisation Northbengal Institute of Development Studies Dr, Syed Samsuzzaman, said successful implementation of massive SSNPs has improved livelihoods of the poor in the district. “The income generating activities (IGAs) with supports of the SSNPs have improved economic conditions of the poor bringing them out of poverty cycle in last ten years,” added Samsuzzaman.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Sharif Md. Foyezul Kabir said over 4,500 homeless families have improved their living standard after their rehabilitation in all eight upazilas in the district under the Asrayan Prokalpo alone.
Talking to media, rehabilitated couple Abu Bakar and Dulali at Chengmari-2 Asrayan Prokalpo in Gangachara upazila said they became homeless since the Teesta eroded their house several times.
Rehabilitated couple Anwarul Islam and Mariyam, Masud Rana, Nurul Amin, Mofizul Islam and Shekel Banu there said their houses were eroded up to 12 times over the years.
“After rehabilitation, we got government assistance under the SSNPs to become engaged in IGAs and all of us are now earning well to lead happier life,” said Abu Bakar.
Shekel Banu said all rehabilitated families have cows, goats, poultry birds, homestead garden, kitchen, sanitary latrine and many other facilities and their children are going to schools.
Around one-lakh poor families have improved livelihoods through various IGAs utilising training, assistance and micro-credits under the recently renamed “Amar Bari, Amar Khamar (ABAK) project under the SSNPs in the district.
Beneficiary of the ABAK project Alifa Begum of Kursha Balorampur village of Sadar upazila said she got interest-free loans Taka 10,000, Taka 15,000 and Taka 30,000 in various phases since 2012.
After getting loans, she purchased heifers, goats and sheep with assistance of her husband Amjad Hossain.
“I have nine cows, 12 goats and 17 sheep, two acres cultivable land taken on lease along with other assets worth Taka ten lakh to lead solvent life now with my family members,” Alifa said.
District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer ATM Akhteruzzaman said massive uplifts under SSNPs were implemented spending huge food grains in addition to employment generations and distribution of VGF rice among the poor in last ten years.
Successful implementation of the massive social safety net programmes (SSNPs), one of the ten special initiatives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is bringing the poor out of poverty cycle. According to officials and experts, thousands of poor families are leading normal life overcoming economic vulnerability and improving their socioeconomic conditions and living standard in last ten years. “The government is implementing SSNPs to ensure social security, livelihoods and food security of the poor, backward, marginalised and underprivileged people,” Additional Divisional Commissioner (General), Rangpur Zakir Hossain said.
The SSNPs include employment generation project for the poorest, test relief, food for work and work for money, vulnerable group development (VGD) and vulnerable group feeding (VGF) programmes, Asrayan Prokalpo and many other programmes.
Chairman of Rangpur-based research organisation Northbengal Institute of Development Studies Dr, Syed Samsuzzaman, said successful implementation of massive SSNPs has improved livelihoods of the poor in the district. “The income generating activities (IGAs) with supports of the SSNPs have improved economic conditions of the poor bringing them out of poverty cycle in last ten years,” added Samsuzzaman.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Sharif Md. Foyezul Kabir said over 4,500 homeless families have improved their living standard after their rehabilitation in all eight upazilas in the district under the Asrayan Prokalpo alone.
Talking to media, rehabilitated couple Abu Bakar and Dulali at Chengmari-2 Asrayan Prokalpo in Gangachara upazila said they became homeless since the Teesta eroded their house several times.
Rehabilitated couple Anwarul Islam and Mariyam, Masud Rana, Nurul Amin, Mofizul Islam and Shekel Banu there said their houses were eroded up to 12 times over the years.
“After rehabilitation, we got government assistance under the SSNPs to become engaged in IGAs and all of us are now earning well to lead happier life,” said Abu Bakar.
Shekel Banu said all rehabilitated families have cows, goats, poultry birds, homestead garden, kitchen, sanitary latrine and many other facilities and their children are going to schools.
Around one-lakh poor families have improved livelihoods through various IGAs utilising training, assistance and micro-credits under the recently renamed “Amar Bari, Amar Khamar (ABAK) project under the SSNPs in the district.
Beneficiary of the ABAK project Alifa Begum of Kursha Balorampur village of Sadar upazila said she got interest-free loans Taka 10,000, Taka 15,000 and Taka 30,000 in various phases since 2012.
After getting loans, she purchased heifers, goats and sheep with assistance of her husband Amjad Hossain.
“I have nine cows, 12 goats and 17 sheep, two acres cultivable land taken on lease along with other assets worth Taka ten lakh to lead solvent life now with my family members,” Alifa said.
District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer ATM Akhteruzzaman said massive uplifts under SSNPs were implemented spending huge food grains in addition to employment generations and distribution of VGF rice among the poor in last ten years.
