ZCZC
BSS-35
ADB-ASSISTANCE
ADB gives $1.34m to avoid skills trainees’ drop out due to Covid-19
DHAKA, April 2, 2020 (BSS) – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) yesterday
gave $1.3 million financial assistance to Bangladesh to prevent the trainees
from dropping out of the ongoing training under ‘Skills for Employment
Investment’ program (SEIP).
The SEIP is providing sector-focused and job-ready skills training through
partnerships with public institutes, industry associations and other
organizations, covering skills requirements in 10 industry sectors, said an
ADB press release today.
“Each of the 22,619 current trainees will get BDT5,000 as one-time
assistance,” said ADB Country Director for Bangladesh Manmohan Parkash.
He said the COVID-19 pandemic has caused adverse impacts on the trainees’
livelihood and this assistance will help the trainees to continue their
training as they are from poor households and chances of their dropping out
are high due to the prolonged COVID-19 lock down.
“We have requested the Government to transfer the money timely to the
trainees through their bank accounts”, Country Director Parkash added.
The assistance is additional to the $350,000 emergency grant approved on
March 27, and other ADB support package being put together in the health and
financial sectors for tackling Covid-19 challenges in Bangladesh.
The release said ADB has announced measures to help its developing member
countries tackle the Covid-19 pandemic. On March 18, 2020, ADB announced a
$6.5 billion initial package to address the immediate needs of its developing
member countries as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
An emergency grant of $350,000 was approved on March 27 to support
Bangladesh to procure health safety materials including personal protective
gears, N95 masks, safety googles, aprons, thermometers, and biohazard bags.
BSS/PR/GM/GA/1741 hrs