A total of 7,595 villagers of Dumuria upazila in Khulna became self reliant after getting financial support from 137 branches of Palli Sanchay Bank (PSB) under “Amar Bari Amar Khamar (ABAK)” project, one of the 10 special initiative’s of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The PSB is extending financial support to poor and ultra families for becoming self-reliant by providing them with collateral -free loans and bringing their micro-savings in a revolving credit scheme, said Kanok Chandra Adhikary, General Manager of PSB in Dumuria upazila.
Kanok also the Coordinator of ‘Amar Bari Amar Khamar’ project of the upazila said the PSB, which is focused on bringing in disadvantaged people, especially women entrepreneurs under financial service facilities, has been providing collateral-free loans to rural poor since its inception in 2014.
Currently, the bank has given loan of around TK 22.80 crore among family members of 2017 Village Development Association (VDA) in the upazila.
The members have so far deposited about around TK 4.60 crore while the government deposited festival bonus of around TK 3.63 crore in their bank accounts.
“We have collected 63 percent loan so far from the VDA’s members who are also PSB holders”, he added.
Kanok Chandra also said PSB is creating huge opportunities for the rural people to help them become self-reliant.
The loans are given for cow fattening, raising dairy cows, manufacturing agro-industrial tools and spare parts, producing vegetable and spices and
establishing agro-based small industries, cottage industries, fisheries and nursery.
The project has got momentum after having it a new name Amar Bari Amar Khamar (ABAK) which has aimed to attain SDGs by 2030.
Sharing experience about getting services from the PSB, Billal Fakir, a Cattle trader Madhugram in Dumuria upazila, said, he successfully set up a
dairy farm beside his residence with getting loan of respectively Taka 50,000 last year.
“My income was not enough to meet my all family expenses. So, I borrowed money from PSB under the ‘Amar Bari, Amar Khamar’ Project for my business,” he said.
“Now, our dairy farm is running well enough to meet the demand for everyday needs besides making savings for future,” Billal said.
Like Billal Solaiman Gazi of Rubaghera village, Aklima Begum and Ranjit Das of Thukna village and have also become self reliant in their vegetables farming after getting loan support from PSB. (BSS)
