5,000 families become self-reliant in Khulna

The “Ekti Bari, Ekti Khamar” (One House, One Farm) Project, one of Prime Minister’s 10 special initiatives, so far benefitted 36,499 people of 5,000 families in the district since its launching in 2009, reports BSS.

“Some 36,499 members of 614 cooperative societies in 68 unions of the district got financial assistance under the project to be self-reliant,” Deputy Director of Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB) Tofazzel Hossain said.

He noted that the members so far received a loan of Taka 54 crore, of which Taka 20.25 crore came from the regular savings of the society members while the government gave Taka 16.86 crore as grants and Taka 17.23 crore as project loans.

“Most of the people already paid back their loans after becoming self-reliant,” said Hossain, but pointed out that some others yet to pay back Taka 10 crore loan.

While visiting Jabusha village of Rupsha upazila in Khulna on Saturday, this correspondent found that many people, including a good number of women came out of extreme poverty with the support of the one house, one farm project.

“I bought a cow for Taka 20,000 by taking loan from the Society in 2011. The cow gave birth of a calf in a year, which I sold for Taka 20,000 after two years and paid back half of my loan,” said Lipi Begum, 30. She also earns Taka 200 every day by selling cow milk after meeting the milk demand of her two children.

“I have a plan to set up a poultry farm this year”, said Lipi.

President of Jabusha village development committee Abdul Gaffar said each member of the Cooperative Society can get Taka 5,000 to Taka 30,000 at 8.0 percent interest for one year.

Khulna Deputy Commissioner Aminul Ahsan told BSS that ‘One House, One Farm’ project is playing a vital role for reducing poverty.

“We requested the officials concerned and non-government organization (NGOs) to cooperate with the beneficiaries of the project so people can get ultimate advantage out of it,” he said.

He said the government has taken the project to expedite economic development in rural area for improving the living standard of the people and help them come out of poverty.

Another report from Rangpur adds: Over 40,000 families become self-reliant thanks to the ‘Ektee Bari, Ektee Khamar – One House, One Farm (EBEK)’ project in the rural areas of the district.

The initiative has been effectively eliminating abject poverty, already made more than 40 thousand families self-reliant in rural areas of Rangpur district.

The information was disclosed by Deputy Director of Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB) Md Abdus Sabur while taking part in two video conferencing programmes held on Monday at separate places in Pirganj upazila.

The District Information Office organised the programmes at Kataduar Government Primary School and house of Amjeda Begum in village Hossainpur to inform common people about the EBEK project, one of the Prime Minister’s 10 special initiatives.

Moderated by Senior District Information Officer Humayun Kobir, the BRDB Deputy Director answered various questions asked by villagers through video conferencing on progress and various aspects of the EBEK project.

Former Head of the Department of Bengali of Rangpur Government Begum Rokeya College Professor Md Shah Alam was present as the chief guest.

Assistant Information Officer Tasmia Tamanna, officials of the EBEK project Ariful Islam and Mansur Hazaz, members of the Village Development Samities (VDSs) and common people were present.

The villagers asked the BRDB Deputy Director to explain about the EBEK project, its prospect, procedures for becoming members of the VDSs and getting loans and other related issues.