The first phase of the special Employment Generation Project for the Poorest (EGPP) at Taka
124.69 crore continues successfully benefiting the poorer section people in Rangpur division,
official and local sources said.
The infrastructural development works under the programme have been running in full swing
in all 58 upazilas of eight districts in the division benefiting 1,55,862 ultra poor people through
creating job opportunities.
District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO) Abdus Salam of Rangpur said each of
the beneficiaries is earning wages of Taka 200 per day for five days in a week under the
programme.
The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief has allocated the huge amount of money
under the government’s social safety networks for assisting ultra poor to led better life through
earning wages from conducting development works.
“Each of the card-holder beneficiary person including distressed women is working for five-day
in a week to earn Taka 8,000 as wages for their 40-day works during the two-month scheduled
period to be continued till January 31 next,” he added.
Under the programme, each of the beneficiaries is getting weekly wages of Taka 1,000 for
five days on the Thursdays through their own bank accounts opened at Taka 10 at the local
branches of the commercial banks.
The beneficiaries have been conducting development works like earth-filling for bridges,
culverts, roads, waterbodies, ponds, canals, educational and religious institutions, cleaning
weeds, preparing compost heaps, renovating, repairing and other works.
Under the programme, the government has allocated Taka 28.80 crore for 36,008 beneficiaries
in Rangpur, Taka 28.90 crore for 36,132 in Kurigram, Taka 4.75 crore for 5,946 in Lalmonirhat,
Taka 10.67 crore for 13,349 beneficiaries in Gaibandha districts.
Besides, Taka 27.11 has been allocated for 33,897 beneficiaries in Nilphamari, Taka 11.28 crore
for 14,109 in Dinajpur, Taka 5.60 crore for 7,008 in Thakurgaon and Taka 7.53 crore for 9,413
beneficiaries in Panchagarh districts.
Beneficiaries Aklima Begum, Monalisa Khatun, Hafiza Begum, Moynul, Bhola Nath and Kalpona
Rani of different villages said they are being benefited to lead normal life through earning Tk
1,000 every week under the programme.
Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) of Rangpur division Narayan Chandra Barma
said the EGPP has been helping the poorer section people to lead better life improving their
livelihoods everywhere in Rangpur division. -BSS, Rangpur
