Community Dhan Bank Programme has already grained ground among rural people in Panchagarh.
Under the programme, ultra-poor people can take paddy as loan from the Dhan Bank (paddy bank) to get relief from starving or half-fed situation during the lean season (August-November). Rural people are happy as they do not need to take loan from local money launders in high interest during the lean season.
The poor people who are unable to manage their bread during the lean period can get 40kg paddy from the bank as loan. After harvesting of Aman paddy they can repay the amount adding additional 5kg as per decision of bank management committee.
Assistant Agriculture Officer of Panchagarh RDRS Bangladesh MA Akthar said five Community Dhan Bank had been set up at Shipaipara village under Atowari upazila, Mondalarhat in Boda upazila and Paikani village under Panchagarh Sadar upazila in 2012.
Five more paddy banks have been set up at Radhanagar in Atowari upazila, Satmera, Gorinabari, Paikani, Hafizabad and Dhakkamara under Sadar upazila of the district this year.
The Rangpur Dinajpur Rural Service Bangladesh, an NGO, is implementing the programme in association with the Finn Church Aid, the Dan Church Aid, the Church of Sweden, the Norwegian Church Aid and the European Union.
A total of 25-30 hardcore poor and seasonal unemployment rural women under coverage area of a Union Welfare Federation have been enlisted as beneficiaries in each paddy bank. Extreme poor, widows, divorcees and physically challenged women have been preferred first to enlist with the beneficiary group.
President of Radhanagar Community Dhan Bank Kamini Chandra Roy said: “Before setting up the bank we took paddy from our landlords during the lean period and we had to repay double amount just after about two months of receiving the loan, said Shanti Rani, a beneficiary of Radhanagar Community Dhan Bank.
Saiful Haque, chairman of Gorinabari Social Welfare Federation said: “The demand of the Dhan Bank service was increasing day by day. We will set up more banks in the locality to meet rural poor people’s demand.”
