The “Amar Bari, Amar Khamar (ABAK)” project, as well as its Palli Sanchay Bank (PSB), is making significant contributions for less-income group villagers to achieve self-reliance by inspiring them towards various Income Generating Activities (IGAs) in Chitalmari upazila of Bagerhat.
According to official sources, the project is now benefitting 9,742 members of 230 Village Development Committee (VDC), who have learnt how to search for IGAs are becoming self-reliant by making quality investments. The VDCs have already raised capital of Tk13.1 crore.
Under the “Ekti Bari, Ekti Khamar” (EBEK) project, now renamed as the ABAK project, VDC members are getting revolving loans, small and medium enterprise (SME) loans and skill enhancement training on various IGAs.
Kabita Mandal, of Kalshira village in Sadar union of Chitalmari upazila, said: “I have greatly benefited from the 'Amar Bari Amar Khamar' project. I didn’t have to pay any bribe to get a loan from my VDC. I have set up a poultry farm with my loaned capital.”
Banani Mandal, of the same village, said that she and her husband have set up a fish farm with a loan from this project. By selling fish in the first phase, they made up their initial investment. “There are still much fish left to sell which will earn us handsome profits. We will take another loan and bring more land under cultivation.”
Another beneficiary Kalpana Braksha said: “We are very poor people and on top of that my husband isn’t physically fit to work. I used to spend my days without any food at times. But, after I bought a cow with a loan from Kalshira VDC, my financial situation started getting better. I have paid off the loan by selling milk. Later, I took out another and bought more cows. Now, I have six cows at my farm.”
Indrajit Mandal, a local field assistant of the ABAK project, said the Chitalmari upazila was mostly inhabited by extremely poor people. “People here were falling further in debt failing to repay loans taken from various NGOs. After joining here, I formed a VDC under the project. Now, many have become self-sufficient.”
Chitalmari Sadar Union Chairman Nizam Uddin Sheikh said that many people of his union have succeeded in setting up poultry, cattle, goat and agriculture fish farms by taking loans on easy terms from the ABAK project.
Obaidur Rahman, Chitalmari Branch Manager, Palli Sanchay Bank, said: “The government is playing a vital role in alleviating poverty and achieving sustainable development goals under the 'Amar Bari, Amar Khamar' project in Chitalmari upazila.”
Chitalmari Upazila Nirbahi Officer Maruful Alam said, “'Amar Bari, Amar Khamar' project is a priority initiate of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to eradicate poverty. In Chitalmari upazila the program is being implemented smoothly. This project is playing a huge role in poverty alleviation.
“The people concerned are hopeful that this project will one day be able to play a major role in eradicating poverty from the country.”
