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Change Your Life! |
Call for NGOs and Individuals to change poverty scenario of the country |
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News |
May
6, 2000 Dhaka, May 5 (UNB) – Bangladesh had been confined to a vicious cycle of low growth in the previous 40 years with average GDP only around one percent and just began to take off.
“The present government since assuming power could maintain a 5 percent-plus annual GDP,” Finance Minister Shah AMS Kibria said elaborating on various economic and social indicators that showed socioeconomic progress of the nation. Mentioning the successes of the present government, he said poverty rate could be lowered to 44 percent, population growth to 1.6 percent while school enrolment rate rose to 96 percent. Child morality rate also decreased. Addressing
the inaugural session of fifth annual conference of Lions District 315 A-1
at a hotel here today (Friday), he said non-government organizations and
conscious individuals should come forward for changing the lot of the
poorer segment of population. “We
can’t accept the lion’s section of society still living below poverty
line,” he said urging the voluntary organizations to take part in the
poverty-alleviating activities alongside government programs. The
Finance Minister appreciated Lions Club’s welfare activities in various
areas, including health, poverty alleviation, employment and relief
operation during natural calamity. Elaborating
on various government programs for poor section of society, he told the
function that the government attached the highest priority to achieving
high rates of GDP and poverty alleviation. “Our
resources are limited. But we are using 34 percent for the social
sectors,” he said mentioning government programs like allowance for
elderly people, soft-term housing loan for low-income group and housing
through Asrayan for homeless people. The function was also addressed by Lions Kamlesh Jain, Prem Lahoty, Muslem Ali Khan, ERM Salauddin and Shahabuddin Khan with district governor Lion Sultana Shaheda Islam in the chair.
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