Fund shortage a barrier to expanding human dev activities: PKSF chairman
A recent study found that the PKSF programme has been playing a vital role in increasing the dignity of disadvantaged groups
Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) Chairman Kazi Khaliquzzaman Ahmed on Thursday said they are struggling to carry on human development activities as the finance ministry kept suspended budget support to their programme titled Enhancing Resources and Incapacities of Poor Households towards Elimination of Poverty for last three years.
Launched in 2010, the programme has been addressing the multidimensionality of poverty and helping disadvantaged groups access their fundamental rights. A total of 13.36 lakh families at 197 unions under 61 districts have so far benefited from the project, according to the PKSF.
"We are failing to expand the coverage of the project due to fund crisis. Even, we are facing troubles to carry on ongoing activities," Khaliquzzaman Ahmed said at a book unveiling programme at the PKSF office in the capital.
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"We used to have good support from the government for the project but it kept suspended the support for the last three years," he added and called for resumption of the aid.
German-based academic publisher Springer Nature brought out the book titled "Sustainable Development, Human Dignity and Choice: Lessons from the ENRICH Program, Bangladesh" based on research on the effectiveness of the project.
University of Sussex Professor Martin Greeley and Dhaka University Associate Professors Asif M Shahan and Shubhasish Barua conducted the study and found that the PKSF programme has been playing a vital role in increasing the dignity of disadvantaged groups.
"The attempt to increase the dignity of people is obviously a praiseworthy work. Hence, I think the programme should expand its activities further," said Mashiur Rahman, economic affairs adviser to the prime minister at the event.
"Usually, the issue of human dignity is ignored in all economic or growth-related talks. The study considered human dignity as a parameter of development. It is unique," he added.
Institute for Inclusive Finance and Development Executive Director Mustafa Kamal Mujeri and PKSF Managing Director Nomita Halder also spoke at the event.
Officials said the PKSF allotted Tk80 crore for the programme for FY23.
