GO-NGO support must for disaster victims
Disaster victims can be better helped during and after calamities if people-centric entrepreneurs and start-ups providing products and services on water, sanitation and hygiene can be supported through a forum comprising government and non-government organisations, speakers told a workshop yesterday.
A plan should be formulated to engage the private sector into developing the products and services based on community needs, they said.
Oxfam organised the workshop in the capital.
Lamenting that sufficient facilities and improvised approaches could not be delivered due to budget deficiencies, Secretary Md Shah Kamal at the disaster management and relief ministry emphasised keeping the market strategies beneficial towards society.
“To create successful and effective private sector engagement, social entrepreneurs can be promoted and we need to patronise them financially,” said Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Selima Ahmad.
“We can encourage the banks into sanctioning loans to the young entrepreneurs to develop social businesses,” she added.
RFL Group Chief Operating Officer Chowdhury Hasan Tariq expressed interest on working on the issue and said an integrated approach was needed to form the forum.
The private sector has an important role to play during disasters and Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority incorporates them in their work for concrete achievements, said its Managing Director Taqsem A Khan.
Oxfam Country Director Snehal V Soneji and Dhaka North City Corporation Superintendent Engineer Tariq Bin Yousuf also spoke.
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