The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday approved the 2nd revision of the ‘Ektee Bari, Ektee Khamar (One House One Farm) project with a cost of Tk 3,163 crore to cover its activities in every villages of the country.
The approval came from a meeting of the ECNEC held at the NEC conference room in city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar this (Tuesday) afternoon with ECNEC chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair,
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Division Secretary Bhuiyan Shafiqul Islam informed that 10 development projects involving a cost of Tk 4,532 crore were approved today (Tuesday).
Of the total outlay, Tk 3,928 crore will come from the government exchequer while the remaining Tk 604 crore as project assistance, he said.
Planning Ministry sources said the 2nd revision of the ongoing “One House, One Farm” project will expand its activities all over the country along with increased cost and duration.
The main objective of the project “One House, One Farm” is to contribute to turning country’s every house into an individual centre of economic activities for overall rural development as well as reducing poverty to 20 percent at the national level by 2015.
The original project received the ECNEC’s approval in November 2009 with an estimated cost of Tk 1,200 crore and with the duration from July 2009 to June 2014. Later, the project was revised (1st revision) by slashing its duration by one year and by re-fixing its cost at Tk 1,493 crore.
The first revised project covers a total of 1932 unions of the country, while under the 2nd revision the project will cover all the unions. The 2nd revision also extends the project’s duration to June 2016 and re-fixes its cost at Tk 3,163 crore.
Under the project, the beneficiaries are being provided with skill enhancing training, loans, grants and technical assistance after forming Village Development Organizations for poor people based on primary survey.
The supply of milk providing cows, fisheries, poultries and seeds among the poor ones is also going on. Internet connection will be provided in project head office, District, Upazilla and Village Development Organization office along with improving digital MIS management through mobile banking and online banking service.
Besides, the project will also ensure the effective use of lands which are left unused by their absentee owners.
The other projects approved in the meeting are: Development of Maolana Bhasani science and technology university (Tk 52 crore-GoB); Development of Noakhali science and technology university (Tk 43 crore-GoB); Repair and development of existing stadiums of the countries (Tk 110 crore-GoB); Irrigation program through surface water augmentation (Tk 41 crore-GoB); Agricultural support for small holders in south-western region of Bangladesh (Tk 140 crore, GoB-25 crore, PA 115 crore); Blue Gold Program (BWD Component) (Program for integrated Sustainable Economic Development by Improving the Water and Productive Sectors in Selected Polders (Tk 564 crore, GoB-75 crore, PA 489 crore); Construction of 950 meter PC girder Bridge over Dharla river at Fulbari upazilla of Kurigram District (Tk 207 crore-GoB); Drinking piped water supply from irrigation deep tubewels (Tk 110 crore-GoB) and Replacement of Old Machinery and Addition of Machinery for Beet sugar Production at Thakurgaon Sugar Mills ltd. (Tk 102 crore-GoB).
ECNEC members including Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Planning Minister AK Khandker and Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, concerned Ministers, Advisers to the Prime Minister, Members of the Planning Commission, Secretaries and Officials concerned were present in the meeting.
Source: UNB Connect
