1,500 corona-affected households to get assistance in Rajshahi

Some 1,500 marginalized households badly affected by the adverse impact of Covid-19 will get assistance, including monetary and income-generating training and assets, as emergency response in Rajshahi.

The stimulus support will be given on behalf of a project titled "Resilience to Economic Volatility of Indigenous and Vulnerable Populations through Empowerment (REVIVE)" so that the target group of people can recoup their losses.

They will also be motivated to improve hygiene practices for COVID-19 prevention through providing 1,500 hand washing devices.

The project is being implemented in six unions of Nachole and Gomostapur Upazilas in Chapainawabganj district, said Narayan Chandra, Coordinator of the project.

DASCOH Foundation has started implementing the project in cooperation with HEKS/EPER supported by Switzerland since July last for contributing to the holistic development of disadvantaged communities, including 80 percent ethnic minorities.

The ultimate goal of the two-year project is to contribute to the economic recovery and resilience of indigenous and other marginalized communities.

"We have started to divide the beneficiary households into 50 groups by primary selection of beneficiaries through social mapping, wellbeing ranking and prioritization for successful implementation of the project," said Chandra, adding each of the households will be brought under cash incentives worth Taka 4,000.

They will be imparted training on various income-generating activities, including agriculture, vegetable farming, homestead gardening, fisheries, livestock, vermicompost and horticulture, based on their interest and choice.

Apart from this, the beneficiaries will be given post-training materials and logistic support so that they can engage themselves in the income-generating activities for improving their living and livelihood condition through best use of their knowledge acquired from the training.

Akramul Haque, Chief Executive Officer of DASCOH Foundation, told BSS that the project has a provision of establishing market linkage between the beneficiaries and the line departments for generating a market chain as well as value chain of the farm products.

Emphasis has been given on strengthening coordination and collaboration among the project stakeholders and local authorities.

He said the project is intended to enhance sustainable livelihoods and climate resilience through economic and social empowerment.

"We will also work on improving waste management for alternative livelihoods and reducing environmental degradation," he added.

HEKS/EPER Country Director Dora Chowdhury said the project is expected to help improve social inclusion and human rights situation of indigenous and other marginalized communities as long term impact.

Source: BSS