Asrayan Project has turned into an evident means of alleviating poverty of the people who once passed their days in extreme miseries after becoming victims of disasters like cyclone, river erosion and landslides.
In Rangpur about 4,500 people affected by river erosion and other climatic disorders are changing their fortune through various income generating activities under the comprehensive social safety-net programs of Ashraya Project, reports BSS.
The Awami League government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina following a devastating cyclone on May 19, 1997 in Cox's Bazaar and adjoining areas launched the project to rehabilitate the cyclone affected people.
The aim of the project was to rehabilitate the affected people with giving them with the opportunities of living in a better condition, ensuring basic education, health care and skill development on income generating activities.
Talking to the news agency, a number of beneficiaries of the project narrated their stories of transformation toward prosperity.
"After getting training in income-generating activities, Upazila Cooperative Office provided us with Tk 6,000 as first loan in 2012 when we started cultivating crops as sharecroppers," said Lucky Begum, a beneficiary of the project.
Nur Mian ( 42) another receiver of the Chengmari Asrayan Phase-2 Prokalpo in Gangachara upazila, said now he feels economic comfort after revolving the credits received from the project for his homestead farming and animal husbandry.
"After payment of the first loan, my family again got Tk 8,000 in 2014 to purchase a bull. I sold it at Tk 24,000 in 2016, paid the second loan and again got Tk 18,000 loan in 2016," he said.
Asrayan project has ended economic vulnerability of many homeless families by providing them with shelters and necessary financial assistance to rebuild their life, they said adding that rehabilitated people are leading meaningful life and their children are going to schools with better attires.
Deputy Director (Local Government) at local district administration Ruhul Amin Mian said a total of 4,500 distressed families have been rehabilitated after completing construction of tin-shed barracks under 41 projects in three phases in eight upazilas of the district since 1997.
The local government departments, including upazila cooperatives offices, are implementing the government's comprehensive social safety-net activities for mainstreaming of the rehabilitated people.
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