SHOUHARDO program for poor families in Gaibandha

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GAIBANDHA, AUG 20, 2018 (BSS) – Strengthening Household Ability to
Respond to Development Opportunities (SHOUHARDO) III program stood beside
34,674 poor and extreme poor families of three upazilas here to change their
socio-economic condition.

CARE Bangladesh in partnership with SKS Foundation has been implementing
the program in 186 villages of 19 unions under Sundarganj, Fulchhari and
Shaghata upazilas since September, 2015 with the financial support of USAID
along with non-match contributory funding by the Government of Bangladesh.

The main goal of SHOUHARDO III is to achieve improved gender equitable
food and nutrition security and resilience of the poor and the extremely poor
households living in the chars including the mainland by 2020, said Md. Ruhul
Amin, senior officer, CARE Bangladesh.

Officials said that the program targeted a total of 38,367 poor and
extreme poor families of the upazilas and 34,674 families had already been
brought under the program till July, 2018 and the rest would be brought under
it in phases.

All the 34,674 poor and extreme poof families received cash support from
the program. The poor family received TK 3,000 while the extreme poor family
got TK 4,500 from the program to start their livelihood related
business/activities.

They utilized the cash for income generating activities that include
crop production, cow and goat rearing, homestead gardening, fish farming,
tailoring, and small trading.

Pobittra Kumar, a fisherman of Majhipara area under Sarbanondo union of
Sundarganj upazila got Tk. 3,000 from the program. He invested Tk. 5,000 for
farming fishes on a pond and within a few months he earned Tk. 15,000 selling
the fishes.

Beneficiary Suchita Rani said the members of the Mother Group, the
lactating mothers are getting 6,675 gram of wheat, 1.50 kg of pulse and a
liter of soybean oil per month to ensure the nutrition for their children.

Deputy Commissioner Gautam Chandra Pal said the SHOUHARDO III had
created positive impacts to the beneficiaries and changing the lots of the
poor and the extreme poor families.