Nearly two lakh families ‘revived with new life’

Nearly two lakh ultra-poor households doubled their income in six years under a project of Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF), while the aid specialists emphasize on the need for more inclusive and multidimensional initiatives to sustain the remarkable improvement. 

The aid specialists came up with the call, as they addressed a 'programme evaluation report publication ceremony', in connection with the PKSF project, in Dhaka on Sunday.

The programme, under the banner of 'Ujjibito' (meaning, infused with new life), was initiated in 2013 in 1724 unions, targeting 3.25 lakh hardcore poor families; at the time, average monthly income of the families was Tk8,932. 

Over the last six years since the commencement of the project, the average monthly income of these families increased 93 percent. According to the programme evaluation report, average monthly income of 1.82 lakh families, among the targeted 3.25 lakh, presently stands at Tk17,256. 

Average monthly income of the households, residing within the project area, but not included in the programme, rose to Tk13,078 from Tk8,490, showing a 54 percent increase.   

The European Union provided PKSF with 11.05 million Euro for implementation of the project within the unions of Barisal, Khulna, Rajshahi, Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur and Cox's Bazar districts.

Mohammad Moinuddin Abdullah, managing director at the PKSF,

presided over the 'report publication ceremony', while Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, the foundation chairman, attended the ceremony as the chief guest. 

Arijit Chowdhury, additional secretary to the Financial Institutions Division, and Manfred Fernholz, first secretary of European Union in Dhaka, were also present as special guests. Professor Dr M Baki Khalili, leader of the evaluation team, presented the programme evaluation report.

Dr Kholiquzzaman said, benefits of time-bounded projects for poverty eradication are not sustainable. He stressed on the importance of inclusive and multidimensional initiatives for alleviating multidimensional poverty.

Manfred Fernholz said, the European Union assisted Bangladesh in obtaining the status of a lower middle-income country. "The support will continue in the future," he added.