Vulnerable groups get livelihood dev training

The government is providing training on sartorial science, driving, automobile and small cottage industry among 3,850 people in five districts in order to better their life and livelihood.

In this regard, the social welfare ministry has undertaken a project titled “Development of the neglected, widow, ultra poor and retreated group life with training”.

The project areas include Tangail, Lalmonirhat, Saidpur, Faridpur and Kurigram.

A total of 140 batches will receive training while 73 batches have already completed it.

The Department of Social Services and Uday, a social organisation, are jointly implementing the project at an estimated cost of Tk 24.27 crore. The project is expected to be completed by June 2022.

Of the project cost, Tk 19.39 crore will come from the government exchequer while the rest of the money from the organisations’ own fund.

The project was supposed to be completed by December 2021, but due to delay in ECNEC approval and of pandemic, the project could not be started in due time that led the implementing agency to seek six more months to carry it out.

Recently, the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) of the Planning Commission has visited the project area to observe training programme. The IMED has prepared a report on it.

The IMED report recommends that the implementing agency prepare a database for the trainees. It also asked the authorities concerned to do audit activities for the project and complete it with the stipulated time.

In Tangail district, the implementing agency aims to provide sartorial science training among 420 people under 14th batch, with each batch comprised of 30 trainees. Already 10 batches have finished their tasks so far.

The agency is also providing driving training to 350 participants under 14th batch, each with 25 people. Already five batches have been trained up.

A total of 250 people will get automobile training under 10th batch. In addition, 250 people will receive training on small cottage industry under the batch.

Project Director Md Shahjahan told The Business Post that, “We are implementing the project in five districts. Due to the pandemic, the project has fallen behind schedule. We have proposed for a six-month extension for the project.”

“The fund disbursement is being delayed. We are yet to receive the government assistance in this regard. We are now carrying out the training programme with our organisations’ own fund.”