Agency (Ministry/Division/Department):
Ministry of Local Government Rural Development and Cooperatives
Background and Objective (when the programme started and in what context):
The present Government has placed poverty reduction at the forefront of its development strategy. The poverty reduction strategy frame work of ‘Steps Towards Change: National Strategy for Accelerated Poverty Reduction II (Revised), FY. 2009-11 is based on the reality of multidimensionality of poverty and takes into account the dynamics of the socio-economic factors that reinforce and perpetuate poverty in the country. The strategy frame work consists of five strategy blocks. The strategic bocks are: (i) Macroeconomic environment for pro-poor growth; (ii) critical areas for pro-poor growth; (iii) essential infrastructure for pro-poor growth; (iv) social protection for the vulnerable and (v) human development. Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) plays a vital role for the development of rural road communication network. As per the Policy matrix-10 of NSAPR II (Revised), the major responsibilities of LGED is: (i) developing rural road communication through ensuring transportation of agricultural products and also ensuring participation, involvement of community, Local Government Institution, NGO’s and beneficiaries group; (ii) prioritizing pro-growth infrastructure (submersible road, ghats, growth center, rural haats, women markets section and union parishad complex, cyclone shelter); (iii) ensuring women’s participation and emphasizing their needs. The Government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) identifies rural physical infrastructure development as a strategic priority for poverty reduction, particularly for the secondary road network, upazila roads and union roads under LGED’s management, and the tertiary road network, the village roads under local government institutions’ management with technical support from LGED.
The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) comprising Rangamati, Bandarban & Khagrachari Districts are Geography isolated and ethno-culturally unique from the Plain lands of Bangladesh. Most of the areas of these three hill districts are sloped land. Per capita cultivated land in this area is less in comparison to the other areas of Bangladesh. Most of the people are living below the poverty level. The main occupation of the rural population of CHT is agriculture, horticulture and livestock. But for marketing of these agricultural Product the region has a very poor communication network. To maximize economic opportunities and improving the living standard of the people living in these area better road communication is essential. – Improve overall access situation and to facilitate agricultural production and marketing in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) region through construction/reconstruction of upazila, union and village roads including appurtenant structures. Improve overall access situation and to facilitate agricultural production and marketing in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) region through construction/ reconstruction of upazila, union and village roads including appurtenant structures. – Reduce the incidence of absolute poverty among the rural population of the CHT through developing the basic physical infrastructure and expanding income and employment generating opportunities that would substantially raise the standard of living of the landless and small marginal farmers. – Create employment opportunities for the rural poor through construction of physical infrastructure under the project. – Encourage indigenous people participation in the construction activities.
Local Implementation: (who implements the programme at the local level):
The poverty reduction strategy frame work of ‘Steps Towards Change : National Strategy for Accelerated Poverty Reduction II (Revised), FY. 2009-11 is based on the reality of multidimensionality of poverty and takes into account the dynamics of the socio-economic factors that reinforce and perpetuate poverty in the country and divides the frame work into five strategy blocks: (i) Macroeconomic environment for pro-poor growth; (ii) critical areas for pro-poor growth; (iii) essential infrastructure for pro-poor growth; (iv) social protection for the vulnerable and (v) human development. Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) plays a vital role for the development of rural road communication network. As per the Policy matrix-10 of NSAPR II (Revised), the major responsibilities of LGED are to: (i) develop rural road communication through ensuring transportation of agricultural products and also ensuring participation, involving the community, Local Government Institution, NGO’s and beneficiaries group; (ii) prioritize pro-growth infrastructure (submersible road. ghats, growth center, rural hat, women markets section and union parishad complex, cyclone shelter); (iii) ensuring women’s participation and emphasizing their needs. The Government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper(PRSP) identifies rural physical infrastructure development as a strategic priority for poverty reduction, particularly for the secondary road network, upazila roads and union roads under LGED’s management, and the tertiary road network, the village roads under local government institutions’ management with technical support from LGED.
Budget in BDT million (FY 2015-2016):
BDT 38.17 crore
Coverage (Geographic) & Beneficiary Number (male/female) (Latest record, indicate year):
Rangamati, Bandarban & Khagrachari Districts