By Maloy Kumar Dutta     
 
DHAKA, Nov 15, 2024 (BSS) – The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief has planned to provide financial aid to poor people in 61 upazilas for lifting them out from poverty .

 “Fifty percent people are living below poverty line in 61 upazilas. We are taking a programme to provide food and livelihood assistance to bring out the people from below poverty line,” Disaster Management and Relief Adviser Faruk E Azam, Bir Protik, told BSS.

During the maiden 100 days of the interim government, the ministry has prioritized reducing the poverty at the grassroots considering poverty as a disaster.

The adviser said each family will get Taka 1000 for food and Taka 2000 for livelihood support under the programme.

“The programme will be implemented on pilot basis in 61 upazilas where 50 percent people living below poverty line,” he said.

Among the 61 upazilas, highest number of 24 in Rangpur division and 14 in three hilly districts in Chattogram Hill Tracts under Chattogram division, 10 upazilas in Kishoreganj district under Dhaka division, five upazilas in Khulna division, seven in Mymensingh division and one in Barishal division.   
 
Besides, the ministry will implement the programme on pilot basis in 14 other upazilas where 47 percent people are suffering from malnutrition.

Among the 14 upazilas, five in Sylhet division, four in Chattogram, two in Rajshahi, one each in Rangpur, Mymensingh and Barishal.

Faruk E Azam said they are urging donor organizations including NGOs to engage with the programme to help reduce poverty.

About the relief and rehabilitation programme for flood in different district across the country in August and September, he said the government put its highest efforts to stand by the flood victims by ensuring required relief goods, medicines and healthcare during the period of flood.

Now the ministry is carrying out rehabilitation programme for the flood victims, he added.

The disaster management and relief ministry has allocated Taka 4.75 crore (cash) and 37,500 bags or sacks of dry food for flood victims in 43 districts including flood affected ones of the country from August 6 to October 29, according to the ministry.

Besides, the ministry allocated 8900 metric tonnes of rice, Taka 2.90 crore for baby food and Taka 2.90 cr for buying fodder as part of relief efforts during the period.

He said the ministry has allocated 1800 bundles of corrugated iron (CI) sheets and Taka 54 lakh for repairing of houses damaged in the flood.
 
Faruk E Azam said that coordinated cooperation is required among public-private organizations, NGOs, microcredit providers and volunteers to deal with natural disaster.

He said that young students including of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, volunteers, local people and public and private organizations responded remarkably to provide assistance in the flood affected areas in August.

The adviser said measures are underway to restore normal life and livelihood in the flood affected areas.

He said the ministry is working to identify the causes of prolonged water-logging in the low lying areas for taking measures accordingly.