Thrust on financial self-reliance of microcredit recipients

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FE Report
The recipients of micro-credit should try their best to become self-reliant financially along with alleviating poverty by utilising the borrowed money, Finance and Planning Adviser AB Mirza Azizul Islam said Thursday.
Dr Mirza Azizul Islam was speaking at the prize giving ceremony of 'Citi Mirco-entrepreneurship Awards Progamme 2008' at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the city.
"Chiefly, the non-government organisations are conducting micro-credit programmes in Bangladesh. But the government is also cooperating with them in this field. The government's financial assistance is being provided to one of the country's leading microfinance institution, the Palli-Karma Shahayak Foundation (PKSF). In collaboration with the government, different organisations are playing a significant role in making the poverty reduction programmes a success through their micro-credit programmes. Government cooperation in this respect will continue in the future also," Dr Mirza Aziz said.
Though micro-credit programme was introduced first in Bangladesh, now the new model of lending money to the people below the poverty line is being followed by many countries including the developed ones as an effective instrument for poverty reduction, he said.
The adviser said, now-a-days, the credit programme is wellknown to all across the globe as the borrowers in Bangladesh have not only been able to alleviate their poverty, but have also become self-sufficient.
Speaking on the occasion, PKSF Chairman Wahiduddin Mahmud said, micro-credit programme is contributing to national economy. Its contribution to agricultural sectors is worthmentioning, he added.
Executive Director of Shakti Foundation for Disadvantaged Women Humaira Islam and Citibank Country Officer Mamun Rashid also spoke on the occasion.
The prize winners for the 'Citi Micro-entrepreneurship Awards 2008' are Sabina Begum of Gazipur district as 'Best Micro-entrepreneur of the Year,' Baby Chakma from Rangamati district as 'Best Woman Micro-entrepreneur of the Year,' Salma Akter of Pabna district for 'Best Innovative Micro Business of the Year' and Society for Social Service (SSS) from Tangail district as 'Best Microfinance Institution of the Year.'