In consequence of the responding activities to the devastating flood in the south-eastern part of Bangladesh last year, CARE Bangladesh along with its partner SARPV has successfully disbursed unconditional cash grants among the most vulnerable groups of people in Koiarbil and Kakara union in Chakaria Upazila in Cox’sBazar district yesterday on 31 March 2013. The UCG cash distribution ceremony was inaugurated by the UNO Mr. Zoinal Abdin and besides, the local MP (Member of Parliament) Mrs. Safia Khatun, UP chairmen and other LG members, local elites and media personnel were also present in the program.
Before the cash distribution ceremony, there was a short session where the MP, the UNO, the UP chairmen, CARE Bangladesh PM, SARPV Regional Manager addressed the session and delivered very short comments regarding the UCG activity.
In inaugurating speech, the UNO thanked CARE Bangladesh and SARPV for their best efforts in maintaining transparency and honesty in the overall project activity. He said to the beneficiaries, “I expect and hope that you would not waste this money in vain, rather you would utilize the money engaging it in income generating activities.” The local Mp Safia Khatun also expressed her gratitude to CARE Bangladesh and SARPV officials for dealing with such a great job in the area. In a short speech, the UP chairman said, “We shall never forget your role you played in our locality in developing the communication system. We are grateful to you forever.”

Consequently, while addressing to the session, CARE Bangladesh PM and SARPV area manager also thanked all for their
cordial and warm cooperation to implement the program successfully. Afterwards, the unconditional grants were distributed to 95 beneficiaries in Chakaria upazila in two unions where 50 beneficiaries were from Koiarbil union and 45 beneficiaries were from Kakara union under the “Recovery from flood in the south-eastern part of Bangladesh” project. Each beneficiary was given a cash grant of an amount of 8000/= (eight thousand) taka.

The local MP, the UNO and the UP chairmen also participated in the disbursement activity by picking up the cash to the beneficiaries’ hands. The UCG beneficiaries were given two options: either they would receive the money coming to the UP complex, or they would receive it in their own houses in cases where they were unable to move. Maximum of the beneficiaries managed to attend the disbursement activity held in the UP complexes. In cases, where, the beneficiaries’ could not come to the UP complexes due to their worse condition of health, were given cash grants in their respected households. CARE Bangladesh and SARPV officials along with UP chairman distributed the cash grants to the beneficiaries visiting their houses.
It is noted that, after a long course of door to door survey, the most vulnerable 200 people (95 from 02 unions of Chakaria & 105 from 02 unions of Ramu) who have none for providing support to meet the livelihood essential needs were primarily selected as the beneficiaries in this activity. After their primary selection procedure, the LGs were requested for their approval regarding the selection. After the selection procedure was accomplished, the cash grants were distribu
ted to them yesterday in Kakara and Koiarbil union in Chakaria upazila.

Hafeza Khatun of Koiarbil union came to the UP complex being carried by her daughter in her lap. She cannot walk at all and even stand. Her old aged and wrinkled face was looking very smiling and happy. Taking the grant amount in her left hand she was saying, “Today I have got this huge amount of cash in my hand, it is the grace of Almighty Allah. This is for the first time in my life when I am seeing such a big amount of money. The Almighty has favored me today.”

Moniruzzaman, a 108 years old man also came to receive cash to the Up complex in his son’s lap. He said that he would utilize the money by buying food and medicine, and the rest of the money he would spend to buy a goat.

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