RAJSHAHI, June 20, 2019 (BSS) – Speakers at a discussion here viewed
joint efforts of all the government and non-government entities concerned has
become crucial to free the marginalized ethnic groups people from poverty in
the Barind area.
They mentioned adverse impact of climate change has been posing a
serious threat to the living and livelihood condition of the marginalized
population. So, concerted initiative has become indispensable to make them
free from all sorts of climate-induced vulnerabilities including poverty.
They came up with the observations while addressing a promotion workshop
of a three-year project titled “Fighting Forced Labour with Adivasi and Dalit
Communities in South Asia” at Tanore Upazila Parishad Hall Room in the
district yesterday.
Agriculture Sustainable and Socio-economic Development Organization
(ASSEDO), a national level voluntary development organization, will implement
the project with financial and technical supports of European Union and
Tradecraft Exchange.
Chaired by Upazila Agriculture Officer Shafiqul Islam, the workshop was
addressed, among others, by Upazila Chairman Lutfor Haider Rashid and its
Vice-chairmen Sonia Sarder and Abu Bakker, ASSEDO Executive Director Rabiul
Alam, Upazila Fisheries Officer Shahadul Islam, Livestock Officer Rofiqul
Islam and Youth Development Officer Md. Sadikuzzaman.
According to the meeting sources, the project will be implemented in 30
villages under Tanore Upazila in Rajshahi and Nachole Upazila in
Chapainawabganj districts for eliminating the menace of poverty.
Some 4,000 ethnic minority people including 2,000 women will be engaged
in various income-generating activities in the project-covering area for
lifting them out of poverty by December, 2021.
To this end, 1000 of the enlisted people from 2000 households will be
brought under need-based training on various trades and vocations like
electrics, mobile, mechanic, tailoring, computer operating, beautification,
driving, carpentry and building construction.
As a whole, the project is intended to promote gender equality and
improve the life status of women and women health through building up
innovation skills of farmers to ensure environmentally and economically sound
agriculture practices, said ASSEDO Executive Director Rabiul Alam.
More than 80 people including 56 ethnic community people and officials
of all the line departments were present at the meeting.