Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina takes a look at a showpiece portraying Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at a stall during a programme organised to celebrate 12 years of Palli Daridro Bimochon Foundation, at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital yesterday. Photo: PMOBss, Dhaka

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said her government has taken steps to further strengthen the NGO Foundation to accelerate microcredit activities to ensure sustainable economic development by alleviating rural poverty.

"We have prioritised food security, social safety and job opportunities as poverty alleviation is the main objective of our government," said Hasina at a function of Palli Daridro Bimochon Foundation (PDBF), a microfinance institution, to mark its 12th anniversary at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka.

The institution, launched by her previous government in 2000, aimed at ensuring social and economic development of rural disadvantaged people and empowering women through enhancing their economic capacity, the premier said. "The government believes a sustainable poverty reduction is not possible keeping women, who represent 50 percent of the population, out of economic activities."

The government had implemented 82 projects involving Tk 20,900 crore under social safety net programmes last fiscal year, Hasina said adding that steps have been taken to implement 84 such programmes at a cost of about Tk 22,000 crore in the current fiscal year.

Besides, Hasina said, Palli Karmasahayak Foundation has distributed over Tk 10,000 crore among 81 lakh hardcore-poor people, of which 90 percent are women.

“The foundation is also working to implement the insurance sector development project for the poor.”

Source Daily star : http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=193630