Job scheme for ultra poor yet to start in 2 Nilphamari UZs
Anomalies in other areas as rich men on beneficiaries' list
The government's 40-day programme meant to provide employment to ultra poor people in the lean period could not yet start in Jaldhaka and Kishoreganj upazilas even after expiry of the earlier scheduled period of March 10 -- April 20.
The situation has arisen due to dispute among the project committee members, mostly belonging to the ruling party members, over inclusion of their 'own men' in the list of beneficiaries.
With expiry of the original project period, many locals fear that scheme may remain elusive to about 15,000 prospective beneficiaries in those two upazilas.
In different unions of Nilphamari Sadar upazila, the programme started much later than March 10.
It started on April 6 in Shangolshi union of the upazila.
Surprisingly, an expatriate living in Dubai and some other wealthy people in Sangolshi union have been enrolled as day labourers in the list of government's 40-day work generating programme for the extreme poor.
"I and councillors of the UP have nothing to do with the list of beneficiaries under the project as the ruling party men are making the lists," said Sangolshi union parishad Chairman Tikendra Nath Roy.
Solvent people, even owners of buildings, have been included in the list of 660 beneficiaries in the union, he said, adding that ruling party men are responsible for the 'gross irregularities'.
An expatriate in Dubai, Kazi Jewel of Kazipara village in Shangolshi union has been included (serial No 367) in the list of beneficiaries.
"I have heard that the name of my elder brother Kazi Jewel, who went to Dubai for work seven years ago, was included in the list of beneficiaries," Kazi Mithu, brother of the expatriate, told this correspondent.
Another beneficiary of the project Akbar Hossain, 65, of the same village is a rich farmer and owner of a brick-built house.
"I do not know how my name was included in the list," he told this correspondent yesterday.
The name of Sahimuddin, 70, of Dolapara village of the union was also included in the list. Visiting his residence yesterday, this correspondent found that construction work of his brick built house was going on in full swing.
On condition of anonymity, a concerned UP councillor said names of people having enough landed property or well furnished house had been included in the list in exchange of bribe.
"I am extremely poor but my name was not included in the list of beneficiaries. But names of land owners and brick built house owners have been included in the list,” said Abdul Hamid, 40, a day labourer of Kazipara village.
Rafina Aktar of the same village said her ailing husband pulls rickshaw van to maintain family but her name is out of the list.
A number of extremely poor people alleged that they were kept out of the list despite requesting the project committee members frequently.
Mostafizar Rahman, an influential member of the project committee of Shongalshi union, also general secretary of the union unit of ruling Awami League, however, claimed that the list of beneficiaries was made with the names of extreme poor people through proper verification.
When his attention was drawn to the names of the expatriate in Dubai and owners of brick built houses and lands in the list, he said that it was a mistake in computer composing.
When contacted, Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Abdur Rafiq said, "It is a gross irregularity to include wealthy men's names in this programme meant for the poor. Nobody complained to me about it. I must investigate the matter."
Under the government-run 40-day project, about 50 thousand ultra poor people in Nilphamari district are supposed to get employment with Tk 120 each as daily wage.
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