'Participation of civil society needed for poverty alleviation'

This was disclosed at a roundtable meeting titled 'Role of Civil Society to Improve the Quality of Life of the Ultra Poor' held under the aegis of the Advocacy Department of the BRAC. The Bangladesh Centre for Development, Journalism and Communication (BCDJC) organised it at the local RDRS auditorium on Saturday.

BRAC Director Afsan Chowdhury who was present as the chief guest informed the participants that BRAC had undertaken a pilot project named Challenging the Frontier of Poverty Reduction: Targeting the Ultra Poor (CFPRTUP) on experimental basis to improve the socio-economic condition of the ultra poor women of the society from January, 2002. Only the ultra poor women and distressed women of the society are selected through a special procedure. At the initial stage the pilot project is being implemented in three districts Rangpur Nilphamari and Kurigram including 6,000 ultra poor families. The first year of the project work has been completed recently.

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BCDJC Director Samar Roy conducted the entire programme while Regional Coordinator and Journalist Aminul Huq placed an annual report to evaluate the progress of CFPRTUP on completion of its one year.

Thirty two repersentitives of different professional groups, businessmen, public representitives, government officials, NGO representitives, representitives of woman rights groups, political leaders including 12 journalists of the print and electronics media took part.

Afsan Chowdhury further disclosed that this year it has been expanded to four more districts Netrakona, Madaripur, Gopalgonj and Kishoregonj. Ultimately 70,000 ultra poor families will be brought under the project within 2006, he said.

Under the programme, ultra poor women are trained for rearing chickens, cows, goats, vegetable cultivation, creating nursury, management of small business and preparation of shoes and sanitary napkins.

Besides, women will be made aware of their social responsibility and health rules.

BRAC director also told the meeting that village assistance committee has been formed comprising members of the civil society of villages for achievement of the goal of the project. The committee will solve problems of local ultra poor people under the project.

When asked by the local dignitaries, the BRAC director explained them the definition of ultra poor and civil society members of villages. They also questioned him about the utility of the project and suggested for its expansion.

The meeting was told that besides helping the ultra poor economically, all-out measures should be taken to strengthen them mentally, socially and culturally, otherwise no programme would be successful for their welfare.

At the beginning of the round table conference a documentary film was shown.