Sweet abode at last
As many as 690 people who lived on begging got new houses under Ashrayon-2 Project, government's first housing programme for them, in Kishoreganj upazila under the district.
The government had undertaken the project in 2015-2016 fiscal year.
Locals donated land to the landless people to build a house having four windows, a door and a latrine and thus a new dimension is added in the project.
According to the office of upazila nirbahi officer (UNO), the government initiated the project at a cost of about Tk 5.18 crore after the upazila was declared free from beggars with promise of giving rehabilitation facilities on July 5 in 2014.
Upazila Chairman Rashidul Islam said the enlisted beggars were made members of 'Ekti bari, ekti khamar' project to provide them with loan and training on income generating activities like cattle rearing.
They were also included in various social safety net programmes like 40-day employment programme for poor people, test relief and food for work.
Chief Secretary of Prime Minister's Office Md Abul Kalam Azad visited the upazila in 2015 to see progress of the project.
Beneficiary Jahaton Bewa, 65, who lost her day labourer husband 20 years ago, said “I became helpless with three daughters and started begging for livelihood after my husband's demise.”
“I am now happy as I got two goats for rearing under the programme,” she said.
Another beneficiary Jorimon Bibi, 60, said, “I used to sleep in others' cowshed at night, but now I have a new house on two decimals of land donated by local resident Mozam Ali.”
UNO Mehedi Hasan said, “As 50 percent of the beggars in the area do not own land, we persuaded local land owners to donate one to two decimals to each of them so that the house and latrine can be set up, and many responded to our call, which is really unique.”
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