Resources for ultra poor eaten up

It was launched jointly by the World Food Programme (WFP) and the government to improve financial condition of 16,500 destitute women by providing them work so that they can be brought under mainstream development programmes, including micro credit and income generating activities.

The Rangpur Dinajpur Rural Service (RDRS) and Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) were given the responsibility to implement the programme.

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A total of Tk 5'32 core and 127 tonnes of rice were sanctioned in the current financial year for projects.

RDRS sources seeking anonymity said, WFP and Bangladesh government gave a "great opportunity" for poverty alleviation through the IFS programme. But it "virtually failed" to attain the objective.

One third of the targeted destitute women could not be brought under the mainstream programmes due to misappropriation resources by a section of LGED men, who were mainly responsible for the project, they claimed. IFS is a pilot project of WEP and the government.

As per the circular of the programme, 500 women of every targeted union living bellow poverty line worked in groups in 33 unions. Every group had a 'users committee'.

The first phase of the programme started in 2002. Second phase launched in March this year has just been concluded.

Under the programme, every beneficiary was supposed to get two kilograms of wheat or rice and an amount equal to the market price of two kg rice or wheat for digging every 53 CFT earth.

Many of the beneficiaries complained to this correspondent during a recent visit to the areas that they were not given their due wages. At many places beneficiaries they that LGED men even did not let them know the actual quantity of wheat or rice they were entitled.

During the last fifteen days, the women who worked at different projects in upzilas complained to the authorities concerned that their legal wages was not paid.

Many a destitute women in Roumari and Rajarhat upzila complained that two-thirds of rice and money against their wages were misappropriated by the project implementing authorities.

Irregularities were also detected in Rajibpur and Sader upzilas where the poor women complained that they got only one third of their wages. The authorities took advantage of the illiteracy, they alleged.

Although RDRS monitoring cells were there, they were oblivious of what the government officials were doing, they alleegd.

Zafar Ali, Chairman of Kattalbari union alleged that about 90 percent resource of Tk one lack, sanctioned for earth filling at Roypur Madrasa and Dasherhat High School ground was misappropriated by the implementing authorities. Works on these projects were shown "complete" within three days, he said.

Abdul Hamid, former chairman of Belgachha union under Sader upzila alleged that implementing authorities in collaboration with chairmen of 'users committees' misappropriated two-thirds of the resources sanctioned against eight projects in the unions.

Khuki Rani, 'users committee' chairperson of Group No 10 in Gharial Danga union under Rajarhat upzila told this correspondent that despite repeated request the authorities did not let them know the quantity of the allotment against their project.

She alleged that although there was provision to make payment to the supervisors through separate dispatch order and allotment, the authorities paid wages in the same dispatch order and allotment.

Mina Rani of the same group alleged that measurement of their work was not taken immediately after completion of the earthwork. It was taken after rain washed away the earth. Delaying the measurement was their tactics to deceive them, she alleged.

About fifty percent of the project work under second phase could not be completed in Rajarhat and Ulipur Upzila, said RDRS director (Social Empowerment) Imrul Kaes.

He showed early rainfall as the main cause. Amzad Talukder, a local social worker ridiculed this. He said 50 percent work is incomplete due to an unholy alliance among the RDRS, 'users committees and LEGD men.

Rajina, chairman of Kazipara 'users committee' in Daldolia union under Ulipur upzial said each woman in her group got only 60 kg of rice and Tk 1200 in place of 120 kg rice and Tk 2000.

It was alleged that there was no supervisor in any of the five unions under Ulipur upzila to take measurement of the earthwork.

When contacted, Salauddin Ahmed, Executive Engineer of Kurigram LGED, said a huge number of written complains from different upzilas were received at his office in

June.

" As I am not concerned with the project, I sent those to the PD (Project Director)" he said.