Message from Project Director

 Tofail Md. Alamgir Azad, M.Sc, MPH, Ph.D.

About 49% of total population i.e. 70 million of Bangladesh falls under poverty are destitute, vulnerable and lead an inhuman life. 30 million people are extreme poor which is 20% of total population. At present over 35million people living in various cities in Bangladesh and it is estimated that, this number will increase to about 68 million in the year 2015. About 40% of the urban population are living in slum is an emerging issue need to be given attention so that they can live with lives.

Dushtha Shasthya Kendra (DSK) implementing a economic empowerment project for the poorest of the poor entitled “Moving from Extreme Poverty through Enhancing Economic Empowerment” shortly DSK-Shiree Porject funded by shiree/eep: a GoB and DFID partnership is to address the multiple causes of extreme poverty in Dhaka city by enhancing the capabilities of the extreme urban poor to cope with urban life, through their house holds economic strategy. Integrated with access to basic services to the livelihood frame works will focus on this extreme poor segment of slum dwellers to improve their livelihood. DSK is running with their mandate and motto to reach the stated goal.

During next three years (2009-2012), total 10000 Households of Karail and Kamrangirchar will be benefited by this project. This project will contribute to Government’s initiative to achieve Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 1. The total budget of this project is about BDT 36,64,43,362.00. About 80% of the total budget will be spending for improvement of the livelihood of the extreme poor family. Unit value per family/household is about BDT 28,222.00 which includes capacity building, assets transfers, start-up capital, cash stipend, apprenticeship and support to the pregnant mothers.

Urban Poverty reduction is a big challenge but DSK-Shiree project having higher prosperity if it past experiences and its workforce and turn it into better human resource for reducing urban poverty. Internal and external migration, political crisis and low and order situation are some of the challenges need to address. We are very careful in working complex situation in Dhaka slum and carefully monitored and evaluated so that the most appropriate could be scaled over the time Project activities are running well.

Existing safety-net programs are inadequate even after its progressive expansion in the current budget. No indication of safety-net program poorest of the poor in urban slum. Need greater efforts and support in this area. Urban Slum’s people’s contribution to Dhaka’s economic growth is significant as they much provide needed labor to manufacturing, services and other sectors. So, it is important to bring them mainstream of in the economy and support to get out of poverty, hunger and malnutrition for achieving the MDG 1.