Majority of ultra-poor people yet to get any job

Although a few ultra poor women work under the government's 40-day job scheme to stave off monga in char areas on the basins of Teesta and Dharla rivers in Lalmonirhat district, most poor people in the areas are still out of job Photo: Star

A large number of ultra poor people especially in char (landmass emerged from riverbed) areas on the basins of Teesta and Dharla rivers in the district are badly suffering during the ongoing monga, a seasonal famine-like situation affecting the area every year.
To help the jobless ultra poor people in the area, the government arranges a 40-day job scheme early April every year.
But this season it started in only 12 unions of Aditmari and Patgram upazilas in the district two weeks ago when 2,540 selected ultra poor jobless people joined their work in their areas.
People concerned in 33 unions in three other upazilas under the same district are still waiting for the programme.
Before the harvest of boro paddy, the situation prevails in greater Rangpur region including Lalmonirhat during Bangla months of Chaitra and Baishakh when the poor people pass hard times due to unemployment amid absence of farming activities, said locals.
This year 9,582 ultra poor people in 45 unions of five upazilas under the district are to be selected for working as day labourer under 40-day job project, each to get Tk 175 daily wage on five workdays in a week, said sources at Lalmonirhat District Relief and Rehabilitation Office.
The government sanctioned Tk 6 crore 70 lakh 74 thousand for the purpose this year but by now the project work started in only two of the upazilas.
"We have to suffer till the harvest of IRRI-boro paddy that will start after about a month," said Nobir Iddin, 48, a farm labourer at Kalmati village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila.
Monsur Ali, 47, Khalilur Rahman, 52, Mizan Miah, 60, Tobarok Ullah, 58, and many others at Char Kulaghat village in Lalmonirhat Sadar are also in the same boat.
Mofazzal Hossain Mofa, chairman of Rajpur union parishad in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila, alleged that the 40-day job programme in different areas of the district sees unusual delay this season as ruling Awami League men are trying to benefit their chosen people from the programme.
Anwarul Islam, district relief and rehabilitation officer in Lalmonirhat, said he asked the project implement officers of five upazilas to start the programme everywhere as soon as possible.
"During the job crisis in April-May period, most of the ultra poor people from Lalmonirhat district go to the capital and other places of the country for searching job as only ten percent jobless ultra poor people come under the purview of the government's 40-day job project," he added.
Contacted, Lalmonirhat Deputy Commissioner Habibur Rahman also alleged attempt by some political people to select their chosen people as beneficiaries under the project.
"I ordered all the five upazila nirbahi officers in the district to start the 40-day job programme immediately. I will strictly monitor the programme," he added.