The Daily Naya Diganta, 31st July 2008

Road Built in Tk 52, 000 in Place of 2 TkLac
Ashrf Ali
A village road infrastructure was built at a cost of Tk 52,000 in place of Tk.200, 000 or with one-forth of the amount. This was possible because of the participatory rural development approach followed by the villagers. This example was found in Shihrail village of Kalihati Upazila in Tangail district. The example was set by the Participatory Rural Development Project 2 (PRDP2) project being implemented by the Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB). Mr. Shamsul Haq Mohsin, Chairman of Shihrail Gram Committee informed that it is beyond imagination that the work could be accomplished with one-fourth of the cost because they did the work by themselves. Under normal system the cost would have been Tk 200, 000. The project allocated Tk 35,000, and Union Parishad paid Tk. 5, and rest of the Tk 12,000 was arranged through villager’s voluntary contribution of cash and physical labor. Within a span of two years the Union Parishad including the village has become a development model. This project is an example of transparency and accountability and ensured participation and empowerment of the villagers.

Yesterday a group journalist of Dhaka was taken to Tangail by BRDB to show the activities of PRDP-2. The journalists observed the Union Coordination Committee Meeting and open budget session, visited the schemes and talked to the villagers about the project.

The Daily Jai Jai Din 31st July

Road Building Cost Tk 52,000 in Place of Tk 200,000

A village road was constructed at a cost of Tk 52,000 whereas under normal system it would cost Tk 200,000. One- fourth of the cost required in building the road infrastructure because of the Participatory Rural Development (PRDP) approach followed  by the villagers of Shihrail in Paikara Union of Kalihati Upazila in Tangail district. Mr. Shamsul Huq Mohsin, Chairman of Shihrail Gram Committee informed that under normal system it would have taken Tk 200,000 but the participatory rural development approach brought down the cost to one-fourth. The total budget of the scheme was 52,000 taka of which the PRDP-2 paid Tk 35,000 and Union Parishad paid Tk 5,000 and rest of the amount was contributed voluntarily by the villagers in terms of cash and physical labor. Because of this project this Union including the village has become a model within a span of two years.

A group of journalist from Dhaka was taken to Tangail to show the various activities of the PRDP-2 project being implemented at the Kalihati Upazila of Tangail district. The journalists observed the holding of Union Coordination Committee Meeting and the Open Budget Session. They also visited the infrastructure building schemes and talked to the villagers. It may be mentioned that with the financial support of Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Government of Bangladesh the Link Model is being implemented under the PRDP-2.

This year 1,000 Union Parishad is getting a fund of 10 lac taka under Block Grant to implement similar schemes. By 2012 all the 4,500 Union Parishads of the country will be getting similar amount. This grant is being transferred directly to the Union Parishad bank account. Union Parishads now will be able to formulate development schemes by their own without any interference from the members of the parliament. This is a bold
 and revolutionary approach for the local government system in the country.

Presided over by Mr. Afzal Hossain Mollah, Chairman Paikara union Parishad the Union Coordination Committee Meeting (UCCM) was attended by Mr. Ismail Hossain, Director General BRDB, Chief Adviser, PRDP-2 Dr. Akira Munakata, Mr. Yusuf Ali, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Tangail, Mr. Saifullahil Azam, Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Kalihati, Tangai, Mr. AKM Nazibullah Khan, Project Director, PRDP-2, Mr. Mubarak Ali, Deputy Director, BRDB, JICA Expert Mr. Watanabe, Members of Union Parishad, representatives of Nation Building Departments and villagers comprising around three hundred people.

The Destiny 31st July 2008

A Unique Example of Voluntary Contribution by Shihrail Villagers
Road Building Costs only Tk 52,000
 It took only Tk.52, 000 to build a road. Participatory approach of villagers led the road construction with one-fourth of the amount. Such an example was set by the Shihrail villagers of Paikara Union under Kalihati Upazila. A Participatory Rural Development Project (PRDP2) is being implemented under the Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB).
Mr. Shamsul Huq Mohsin, Chairman, Gram Committee informed that they would not believe this unless they have done this by their voluntary contribution. This road construction would have taken Tk 2 lac under normal system, whereas it took only Tk 52,000 to complete the project under the participatory approach of PRDP-2 under BRDB. The allocation from the project was Tk 35,000; Union Parishad paid Tk 5,000 and rest of Tk 12,000 was paid by the villagers through voluntary contribution and physical labor. Within a span of two years the Union Parishad became a model including the village. This project could ensure transparency and accountability along with ensuring empowerment and participation of local people.

Yesterday (30th July) BRDB took some journalists of Dhaka to Tangail to show the various activities of PRDP-2. This provided the scope to the journalists to observe the Union Coordination Meeting and to talk with the villagers. It may be mentioned here that with financial and technical support of JICA The Bangladesh Rural Development Board is implementing the Link Model under the name PRDP.

This year 1,000 Union Parishad is getting a fund of 10 lac taka under Block Grant to implement similar schemes. By 2012 all the 4,500 Union Parishads of the country will be getting similar amount. This grant is being transferred directly to the Union Parishad bank account. Union Parishads now will be able to formulate development schemes by their own without any interference from the members of the parliament. This is a bold
 and revolutionary approach for the local government system in the country.

Presided over by Mr. Afzal Hossain Mollah, Chairman Paikara union Parishad the Union Coordination Committee Meeting (UCCM) was attended by Mr. Ismail Hossain, Director General BRDB, Chief Adviser, PRDP2 Dr. Akira Munakata, Mr. Yusuf Ali, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Tangail, Mr. Saifullahil Azam, Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Kalihati, Tangai, Mr. AKM Nazibullah Khan, Project Director, PRDP2, Mr. Mubarak Ali, Deputy Director, BRDB, JICA Expert Mr. Watanabe, Members of Union Parishad, representatives of Nation Building Departments and villagers comprising around three hundred people.

Progotir Alo
(Light of Progress)

10 July 2008

PRDP Brings Changes in Tangail Villages (English Translation)

The infrastructure and livelihood of the villagers of Kalihati Upazila in Tangail have undergone changes due to implementation of Participatory Rural Development Project (PRDP). Govnment of Bangladesh and Japan International Cooperation Agency are jointly implementing the project in 20 Unions of three districts. The project covers 11 Unions of Kalihati Upazila, three Unions of Sadar Upazila and two Unions of Delduwar Upazila of Tangail district, two Unions of Titas Upazila of Comilla districts and two Unions of Sadar Upazila of Meherpur district. The main objective of the project is to coordinate rural development, ensuring accountability and proper utilization of local resources. The 31st Union Coordination Committee Meeting (UCCM) of Kokdohora Union Parishad of Kalihati Upazila was held on 9th July 2008. Village Committee representatives, UP members, NBD and NGO workers attended the discussion session. Mr. Shafiur Rahman Khan, Chairman, Kokdohora Union Parishad presided over the meeting. Mr. Nasiruddin, Director, Field Services, BRDB was present as Chief Guest. Mr. Abul Khair, Director, Training, BRDB, Project Director, Mr. Nazibullah Khan, Mr. Shorab Ali, Deputy Director, Tangail, Dr. Akira Munakata were also present in the meeting.

Village committee representatives pointed out the problems of their respective areas. NBD and NGO workers provided solutions to these problems. Most of the problems were related to health, education and road communication. The representative of Poshna village pointed out that the primary school in his locality is manned by one teacher for which education of the student is being hampered. Assistant Education Officer of the Upazila informed that the Head Master of the school left for job elsewhere, one teacher is on maternity leave and another teacher is on leave. He informed that after consultation with the District Primary Education Officer two teachers would be put on deputation to this school.

This type of accountability showed that the UCCM works like a mini-parliament where UP chairman acts as speaker.

- Moziumer Kantha
(Voice of Oppressed)

10 July 2008

UNION BUDGET ANNOUNCEMENT KOKOORORA, KALIHATI (English Translation)

 
On the last Wednesday the 9th July, Annual Open Budget Session of Kokdohora Union Porishad of Kalihati Upazila of Tangail district was held at the Union Parishad Complex.
 
In the program a discussion on Budget Preparation, Plan fonnulation by the Gram Committee, presence of members and accountability of each work under the Union Parishad were discussed in the process of approval of the 2008-2009 budget. The meeting was presided over by the Chainnan of Kokdohora Union Shafiur Rahman Khan. Md. Abul Khair, Director of BRDB Field Service Division, Md. Zahirul Islam, Project Director of
MSPRP & MP, Md. Atiqur Rahman Khan, PD of RPAD, Abul Fazal, District Director (Dhaka), Dilip Kumar Dutt, Joint Director, Accounts Departments of BRDB, A.T.M Abdullah Khan, Deputy Director MOU, Md. Mohiuddin, Akbar Hossain, Deputy Director (Field Services) Marketing, Md. Mubarak Ali, Deputy Director PR&C Division, Farid Uddin Khan, Deputy Director RLP, Amjad Hossain, Deputy Director of Extension and IRI Field (Field Services), Moniruzzaman, Addition Director Planning of PEM; A.K.M Nazibullah Khan, Project Director of PRDP-2, Mizanur Rahman Siddique, (Retd.) Deputy Director, Shohrab Ali, Deputy Director of Tangail; Tamijuddin Ahmed, Deputy Director of PRDP-2 (LMTC, Tangail), Dr. Akira Munakata, Chief Advisor of PRDP-2, JICA, Cheiko Yasuda, Project Coordinator, Sachiko Tanaka, Training Expert, Sayedul Arefin, Deputy Director were present in the meeting. The meeting was also attended by the UP member, Chairman and Gram Committee, representatives of Bazaar Committee and different professional groups. In the budget, the income of the Union Parishad was shown as 42 lac, 32 thousand and 79 taka and the expenditure was also shown the same amount.

It was informed in the meeting that the progress of the work was outstanding because of the coordinated work of UCC members. So UP Chairman, Secretary, UP members, Agriculture , Livestock, Fisheries, Health, Family Planning, Social Welfare, BRDB, Public Health Engineering, Ansar VDP, LGED, Youth Development, Marriage Registrar, various NGOs and Chairman of Gram Committee were made the members of the UCCM.
 
It was held that accountability should be maintained by the Link Model System Network. It was informed that BRDB would allocate 30 thousand taka to each Union for training of local people. At last Shafiur Rahman, Chairman of Kokdohora announced that within next two months hundred percent sanitation works will be ensured in this Union.