Containing poverty --- a new approach
Madan Shahu appreciates an endeavour
There have been many approaches towards poverty alleviation for many years. Poverty was attributed the degree of scourge following population, the number one problem of the nation. One of the notable approaches or rather the most notable approach has been the concept of micro credit. It gained popularity and credit that has brought it and its pioneer the highest honourthe Nobel Prize. By now there have been a number of institutions and NGOs operating microcredit services across the country and beyond. But the spread of the problem is so vast and deep that despite all this only a partial result is apparent. So there is scope, rather need for further effective approaches and innovation of more potential ways towards an alleviation of poverty. In such a prevailing situation, an NGO named "Development Organisation of the Rural Poor (DORP)" has come up with a novel approach: Considerably alleviating poverty in twenty years through provision of maternity allowance for the poor mother and five other provisions. In his foreword to the concept paper, titled "A 20-year Vision SAPNA Program for Poverty Alleviation in Bangladesh", the founder and secretary general of DORP AHM Nouman says, "We run this task .... by grooming and cultivating ideas that may help the poor people of Bangladesh". He further elaborates, ".... this concept paper can convincingly outline the plight of poor young mothers and their families" and "the SAPNA program will continue and expand and help eradicate poverty from Bangladesh". The SAPNA (Social Assistance Program for Non-asserters) approach has six provisions. The other five provisions, besides 'maternity allowance', are: Health, Nutrition and Birth Control Card; Education and Culture Card; Housing and Sanitation; Livelihood Development Seed Money/Materials; Individual Saving, if necessary with micro credit support. It appears as a comprehensive approach. If the ideas could be implemented, that may create a cumulative effect towards effective reduction of poverty to a considerable extent. The concept booklet has messages of appreciation and encouragement from a minister, an ambassador and others. The publication is over allgood but could have been better. The publishers should have been careful about the mistakes. The booklet, being a concept paper, is available only with the publisher DORP, 36/2, East Shewrapara, Dhaka-1216.
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