A triumph over unemployment

Failing to get jobs, some youths in Provurampur village led by Tarek Refat joined hands and formed an association in l994 with only 17 members.

They raised a fund of Tk 11,000 through their contribution and started income generating activities.

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Now they have little time to spare. They are involved in various income generating projects and in social welfare activities. Their Provurampur Jubo Unnayan Samity is known in the area.

Ten years back, the jobless youths had started with pisciculture in a small pond. Hunger Project provided them training. In one year, they earned a profit of Tk 40, 000. They expanded their project to four ponds and earned Tk two lakh in two years.

They added a beef fattening project, which earns them a profit of Tk 50,000 a year now.

Last year, the Samity members planted several thousand saplings on roadsides with the help of government's Youth Development Directorate. Its members voluntarily look after the saplings. They are expecting an income of Tk 10 lakh from the trees after seven years, its president Tarek Refat said while talking to this correspondent recently.

The Samity has set up a 'Charitable Maternity Centre in the village with the help of Social Welfare Department. Poor mothers and children get treatment there free of cost.

The Samity distributes cloths among destitute people of Muslim and Hindu communities during religious festivals. This helps foster communal harmony in the village.

Its members mobilised local people and constructed a one kilometre road under self-help basis to connect the village with the upazila headquarters. This fulfilled a long cherished demand of the local people. Poor farmers get their lands tilled by the Samity's power tiller at nominal cost.

The youths play a vital role to create awareness among local people. The villagers now celebrate important national and international days.

The Samity also conducts regular vaccination programme for children.