Belated 40-day job scheme for poor
Due to delay in receiving funds, the 40-day job scheme started on Saturday in 30 unions of the district, much later than the usual period.
The government project for providing jobs to ultra-poor people during the lean period from mid-October to mid-December started in 30 of 45 unions in the district
The other 15 unions have not been able to start the project as the newly elected union parishad chairmen want verification of the list of beneficiaries in their unions. Tk 6.99 crore 76 thousand has been allocated for providing job opportunity to 8,747 ultra poor people of 45 unions in five upazilas this year, while it was Tk 6.35 crore 68 thousand for 7,946 people in 2015.
Under this scheme, each labourer is paid Tk 200 per day and gets a job for 40 days. The project provides job opportunity during the aman farming period as labourers are without job during that time.
“There was a delay in starting the work as we got the fund in the second week of January. I cannot confirm why the allocation was delayed,” said Lalmonirhat District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO) Idris Ali.
Samad Miah, 52, a beneficiary of Bhadai village in Aditmari upazila said, “Now we have jobs as boro farming and harvesting of winter crops are going on in the area.”
Chairman of Tongbhanga Union Parishad (UP) in Hatibandha upazila Atiar Rahma Ati said 40-day job scheme has not started in his union due to problems in the list of beneficiaries. “The list prepared last year was full of irregularities, so we need to prepare a new list,” he said.
“Many fake beneficiaries were listed and the benefit was enjoyed by the ex-chairman, so it is necessary to prepare a new list of beneficiary ultra-poor people,” said Dawabari UP chairman Rezzakul Islam.
“We can list a new beneficiary if any listed labourer died or is not interested in working in this project, but we can't allow a new list,” DRRO Idris Ali said, adding that the beneficiary lists ware prepared by UP chairmen and members.
“We are talking with the chairmen and members of 15 unions for starting the project in their unions, otherwise the fund would be taken back,” adding that he hoped the project would start in those unions within a week.
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