The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rajshahi

Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (RAKUB) has disbursed a loan of Taka 167.18 crore for implementation of 11 poverty alleviation credit programmes in different northern districts till December last.

According to RAKUB sources, the amount of recovered loan has stood at Taka 118.69 crore during the same time. The projects were benefiting some 1,60,098 marginal, small and poor farmers and unemployed and distressed people through involving them in various income-generating activities.

Each of the 93,649 beneficiaries was extended a mortgage- free maximum loan of Taka 10,000 under the 'self-reliance (Swanirvor) credit programme' for the purposes of agro-products processing, horticulture, forestation, fish culture and animal husbandry in 110 Unions under nine districts.

Without any mortgage, the 'RAKUB self-help credit programme' is being operated in all the northern districts excepting Kurigram, through which the beneficiaries were being provided maximum credit of Taka 15,000 each for the purposes of crop production, poultry farms, small business and rural transportation. Taka 32.64 crore was disbursed among 6965 target people.

The bank is operating 'crop storage credit programme' through its 16 branches in eight districts. The creditors were enjoying loan facilities for crop storage during the harvesting season. Some 7840 beneficiaries received around Taka 4.73 crore as loan under the programme.

In order to make the disabled people self-reliant through involving them in various income-generating activities, a special credit programme is being executed throughout the northern region. Each of the beneficiaries was being provided a mortgage-free maximum loan of Taka 50,000. The programme has so far brought 751 disabled persons disbursing a total of Taka 92 lakh. 'Poverty alleviation through enhancing goat production' is being implemented in all the northern districts aimed at creating employment opportunities for the marginal, medium and small farmers and unemployed young men and women, enhancing supply of protein foods and earning foreign currencies through accelerating export. A total of 13412 goat-farmers got loans of Taka 22.40 crore.

RAKUB is implementing 'zero-poverty special credit programme' through its 64 branches in Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari districts. The programme disbursed total loans of Taka 6.04 crore among 12,806 distressed people. It has also been implementing another programme styled 'crop intensive through marginal and small farm system', through which Taka 34.67 crore was disbursed among 2065 beneficiaries.