DHAKA, Nov 19, 2019 (BSS) – Around three lakh poor rural mothers are getting benefits from the ‘Income Support Program for the Poorest (ISPP)-JAWTNO’ project of the government.
With the support of the World Bank, the Local Government Division is implementing the project at a cost of Taka 2,441.46 crore with a target to provide supports to around six lakh poor mothers in 444 unions under 43 upazilas of seven districts across the country by 2022.
Talking to BSS, Project Director of the ISPP-JAWTNO Project Shaikh Md Kabedul Islam said they have already selected around three lakh beneficiaries of the 186 unions under 18 upazilas across the country.
“Under the project, the government distributed Taka 101.82 crore among 1,43,064 beneficiaries up to August 2019. The amount was distributed through cash card under the electronic process,” he added.
He said they have already conducted over 45,308 Child Nutrition and Cognitive Development (CNCD) sessions for physical and mental development of the zero to 60 months old children.
“A total of 2,208 Ante-Natal Care (ANC) sessions have also been conducted for pregnant mothers while 35,024 Growth Monitoring and Promotion (GMP) sessions for physical growth of the zero to 60 months old children,” he added.
Kabedul Islam said the main objectives of the project are to provide income support through the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) to the poorest mothers in the selected 43 upazilas under seven districts for increasing the mothers’ use of CNCD Services and enhancing union parishad’s capacity to deliver social safety nets.
The beneficiaries of the project are the pregnant women and mothers with their first two children below the age of 5 years from the selected poorest households, he added.
Under the project, he said, pregnant mothers are getting Taka 1,000 per visit for their up to four ANC visits to the community clinics during the pregnancy.
“Mothers, whose first or second child is below 24 months, get Taka 700 per visit for taking child to community clinics for height and weight check-up. If mothers are able to maintain regular monthly check-up over one quarter, they are entitled to an extra Taka 700,” he added.
Kabedul Islam said mothers with children between 2 and 5 years receive Taka 1,500 per visit in a quarter to take the children for health check-up.
“Beneficiary women, who attend CNCD sessions every month, get 700 per visit. In a quarter, if they complete all three visits, they get extra bonus Taka 700,” he added.
He said they have a plan to include a total of 4,69,710 beneficiaries of the 334 unions under 33 upazilas within this year and distribute Taka 166 crore among the beneficiaries.
Kabedul Islam informed that the project will be completed on June 15, 2022 and their targeted beneficiaries will get benefit within the scheduled time.