RAJSHAHI, Dec 24, 2018 (BSS) – Diversified steps were adopted to improve
living and livelihood condition of the disadvantaged and underprivileged
population in the city.
After taking advantages of the time-fitting and need-based measures,
many of the marginalized population have already become self-reliant social
contributor.
Many slum people have started living in brick-built house driving out
from their thatched or mud-house in Rajshahi city.
The observation came at the discussion of a two-day workshop titled
“Institutional Development Strategies of Community Housing Development Fund
(CHDF)” at conference hall of Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) here yesterday.
The RCC organized the workshop in association with its ‘Livelihood
Improvement of Urban Poor Communities Project (LIUPCP)’ largely attended by
leaders and representatives of CHDF and Town Federations in Rajshahi City and
Sirajgonj town.
RCC Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton addressed the workshop as chief guest
with Ayesha Akter Ruma, Town Federation Chairman of Community Development
Committee (CDC), in the chair.
RCC Panel Mayor Shariful Islam Babu and Ward Councilors Abdul Momin and
Towhidul Haque Suman, Executive Engineer Nur Islam and Urban Planning and
Governance Coordinator Kamruzzaman Polash also spoke.
Liton said that the Rajshahi CHDF has provided housing support for more
than 210 families in 47 settlements in 25 wards out of total 30 ones in the
metropolis. Around Tk. 32.5 million have been distributed as housing loans
from the fund.
CHDF has established a process for providing land tenure security and
housing. It is operating its financial activities through a number of primary
savings groups.
Engineer Islam mentioned that more than 55,000 slum people under 171
CDCs have come together in anti-poverty savings scheme accumulating around
Tk. 1.2 billion at present.
Through the savings and credit programmes, the communities now can
operate their own savings schemes and create a revolving fund from which
credit operations are being managed, added Engineer Islam, also member-
secretary of the housing scheme.
Against the savings, the community members received collateral-free loan
for operating micro-business besides addressing their emergency needs and
other family purposes and the credit figure has been accumulated to around
Tk. 816.9 million.
After taking loan from CDCs, many of the members are operating different
kinds of micro business successfully allowing them to have access to a
regular income.
The poor communities operate their own savings scheme along with
creating a revolving fund from which credit operations are managed through
the savings credit programme generating a new dimension towards women
empowerment and curtailing urban poverty.