ZCZC
BSS-09
EXAMPLE-LOAN-PAYMENT (with picture)
Asrayan families set example in loan payments
RANGPUR, Sept 21, 2018 (BSS) – Ninety rehabilitated families at Purbo
Kochua-1 Asrayan Prokalpo in Gangachara upazila here have set a good example
in loan payments by achieving self-reliance through income generating
activities.
Most of the rehabilitated river-eroded homeless families in nine barracks
have also made their own assets by ensuring proper utilisation of revolving
microcredit received from the local Upazila Cooperative Office.
The Asrayan dwellers said they got back a new life with dream of brighter
future for children following implementation of comprehensive social safety-
net programmes by the government.
They got skill-building training on various trades and support from the
local government departments and Upazila Cooperative Office provided
revolving interest-free microcredit to them only at eight percent service
charge rate.
“We are making profits to raise our capital through small- scale business,
animal husbandry, poultry raising, tree plantation, vegetables and fruit
farming at homesteads,” said a widow Tobiya Khatun, 60, rehabilitated there
in 1997 under the programme.
Rehabilitated couple Alef Uddin, 58, and Feroza Khatun, 50, said they
became homeless 18 years back along with many others as the river Teesta
devoured everything they had in nearby village Purbo Kochua Fakirpara.
They narrated in emotion-chocked voice their miserable days passed for
years amid uncertainty with young son Sirajul and minor daughter Arjuma on
the lands of others and flood control embankments.
“Everything started changing when we got shelter at Purbo Kochua-1 Asrayan
Prokalpo. The government of Sheikh Hasina completed its construction during
her previous 1996-2001 tenure,” said Feroza.
On completion of training on income generation activities and other
issues, Upazila Cooperative Office formed Purbo Kochua Asrayan Phase-2
Project Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited and provided Taka 6,000
microcredit to every rehabilitated family there.
“We bought a heifer, opened grocery shop and completed loan payments
through weekly installments to get Taka 10,000 microcredit again when we took
lease of seven decimals of cultivable land that gives three crops, including
paddy twice a year,” Feroza said.
They again got Taka 15,000 cooperative microcredit for the third time on
August 7, 2012 after paying all 45 weekly installments, completed marriage of
their daughter Arjuma, 18, purchased a cow and added investment to their
grocery shop.
“We now lead a sound life and we have assets, including five cows, a
grocery shop and other property to be estimated over Taka four lakh though we
had nothing after becoming homeless,” a smiling Feroza said.
Housewife Anichha, 50, who was rehabilitated in the project as a victim of
river erosion, said they purchased a heifer and old shallow machine after
getting Taka 6,000 cooperative microcredit first time.
After completing loan payments, they again got Taka 9,000 microcredit,
purchased another cow and 12 decimals cultivable land, again got Taka 12,000
and then Taka 15,000 after completing payments of the second and third loans.
“We have now assets of Taka 3.50 lakh. We are earning through cultivating
crops on own land and irrigating others field using shallow machine and our
one son and two daughters are going to school,” Anichha said.
Similarly, rehabilitated Nazrul Islam, 63, Beauty Khatun, 33, Anwar
Hossain, 62, and divorcee Bulbuli, 50, achieved successes receiving
cooperative microcredit three to four times so far after loan payments
successfully.
The rehabilitated people at the Asrayan Prokalpo thanked Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina for launching cooperative microcredit to change their fortune.
Gangachara Upazila Cooperative Officer Md Aftabuzzaman told BSS that the
Asrayan Prokalpo dwellers have smoothly changed their fortune through proper
utilisation of microcredit and other government assistance.
BSS/SPL/MI/AKM 1450hrs