Micro-savings, not micro-credit, can make a difference: PM

PRIME minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said it is micro-savings, not the micro-credit, can develop the fate of the country’s under privileged people.
‘After taking loan from micro-credit lenders, the borrowers have to pay interest…paying this interest, they hardly get any chance to stand on their own feet. As a result, they cannot take any permanent job. They always think how they can earn some quick money and repay their loan,’ she observed.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina said this while addressing a function at Osmani memorial auditorium. The ministry of children and women affairs organised the function on the occasion of ‘Begum Rokeya Day’, marking the 136th birthday of the pioneer of women renaissance.
Turing to the ‘One House, One Farm’ and ‘Ashryan’ projects taken for uplifting the condition of the poor, Hasina said she got the idea from her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
‘One House, One Farm is micro-savings, we’ll give them some money, training and they’ll earn money. If they can save Tk 100 from their earning, the government will give them another Tk 100,’ she added.
The prime minister said the government will give the money for two years. ‘For that we’ve established Palli Sanchay Bank, aiming to eradicate poverty through savings,’ she said.
She also mentioned that her government’s aim is to make the underprivileged section of the country self-reliant.
The government has taken the One House, One Farm project for the economic development of the poor section of the rural areas. Initially, the timeframe of the project was 2009-14, later it was extended to 2016.
LGRD and cooperatives ministry is implementing the project through district administration in 40,527 villages across the country. Around 300 market places have been set up for marketing the products that will be produced under this project.

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