$10m aid for fight against poverty

PATNA: The International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFARD) has adopted three blocks of Bihar for complete eradication of poverty. The IFARD has sanctioned financial assistance worth US $10 million (approximately Rs 46 crore) for a period of eight years. The three selected blocks are — Rajnagar and Pandaul in Madhubani district and Pupri in Sitamarhi district. In these three blocks, 3,200 self-help groups (SHGs) would be formed and a sum of Rs 56 crore generated by way of bank loans. A total sum of Rs 102 crore would be spent during the period of eight years in these three blocks for their overall development. This will be done in collaboration with the Bihar Women's Development Corporation and the state's welfare department. In view of the potential of these three flood-prone blocks, it has been decided to encourage production of "makhana" and fish besides laying emphasis on enhancing Madhubani painting skills to make people self-suffieient. The people living below and above poverty lines in these blocks would be given modern training in "makhana" and fish production through approved agencies. Similarly, women would be given training in Madhubani paintings and marketing strategy.Details of the programme would be chalked out by experts at a workshop to be held here later this month. The main idea is to eradicate poverty in each village located in the three blocks which would be developed as model blocks. State welfare secretary Vijoy Prakash told TOI: "We will monitor these programmes on regular basis. We will take the services of non-government organisations (NGOs) for skill upgrade. It would be a challenging job for us." The state government has decided to make all 80,000 Anganwadi centres as pre-primary education centres. Each Anganwadi centres would have a teacher. There is also a move to attach sugarcane industrial units with self-help groups.