RANGPUR – Most of the river-eroded 2,660 families, rehabilitated under the ‘Asrayan Prakalpa’ since 1997, have changed their fortune in Gangachara upazila of the district.
Acting Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ruhul Amin Mian said the homeless families were rehabilitated in three phases at 266 barracks in 19 ‘Asrayan Prakalpa’ and provided with supports under the government’s comprehensive social safety-net programmes.
“The local government departments have provided necessary training to them and revolving interest-free micro-credit to enhance income generating activities to improve their livelihoods and make them self-reliant,” he said.
Talking to BSS, the rehabilitated inhabitants at different ‘Asrayan Prakalpa’ thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for launching the project giving them new life and hope of brighter future for their children.
Rehabilitated couple Anisa Begum, 40, and Mashiur Rahman, 45, at Purbo Kochua-1 ‘Asrayan Prakalpa’ said they purchased two bullocks after getting Taka 6,000 micro-credit from Upazila Cooperative Office after rehabilitation there in 1997.
They got Taka 8,000, and subsequently Taka 10,000, purchased another cow and 14 decimals cultivable land, again got Taka 12,000 and Taka 15,000 after timely completing payments of previous loans.
“We have already married off our elder daughter Kajori, 21, and four other daughters Tanzina, 14, Zannatun, 11, Tulimon, 9, and Moyna 5, are studying at classes nine, five, three and one respectively,” said Rahman.
“We have assets of Taka three lakh and are earning through cultivating crops on our land and selling labour to lead better life with a dream of making our daughters educated,” said Anisa.
Couple Anwar Hossain, 58, and Shahajadi Begum, 48, said they were rehabilitated at Purbo Kochua-1 ‘Asrayan Prakalpa’ in 1997 and got Taka 6,000 micro-credit after getting skill-building trainings from the local government departments.
“We bought two goats, again got Taka 10,000 and later Taka 15,000 when we bought a cow and took lease of 54 decimals land and started cultivating crops thrice a year,” said Anwar.
“Now, we have assets of Taka three lakh and our only daughter Sohana, 9, is reading in class three,” said Shahajadi adding that their married son Monwarul, 25 also runs a small business. Rehabilitated couple Neer Bala, 50, and Biren Chandra, 56, at Purbo Kochua-2 ‘Asrayan Prakalpa’ said they got Taka 6,000 loan after their rehabilitation in 1997 and later got Taka 10,000 and Taka 15,000 respectively.
“We bought a cow, then three decimals land and then opened a carpentry shop to run furniture-making business,” said Biren adding that they married off their only daughter Kalpona Rani, 30, eight years ago.
Neer Bala said, “We have assets worth Taka 3.50 lakh and my husband is earning well as an expert carpenter as well as running his business.”
Like many others, rehabilitated couple Nurul Amin, 58, and Rezina Begum, 46, at ‘Chengmari Asrayan Phase-2 Prakalpa’ said they got shelter there in 2012 and training before getting Taka 10,000 as micro-credit.
After paying the loan timely, they got Taka 14,000 and again Taka 16,000 when they launched a grocery shop and expanded their business.
“We have married off our three daughters and our married sons Ramjan, 32, and Rajib, 22, are running small businesses to earn well,” said Rezina.
Talking to BSS, Gangachara Upazila Cooperative Officer Md Aftabuzzaman said the Upazila Cooperative Office has disbursed Taka 2.30 crore as revolving micro-credit among beneficiary families of the ‘Asrayan Prakalpa’
in the upazila.
“Most of the beneficiary families have set up example in loan payments to assist successful implementation of the ‘Asrayan Prakalpa’ in effectively changing their fortune,” he added.
