The government is going to take up a project for employment of youths and alleviation of poverty.
This is a comprehensive technology-based integrated resource management (Phase 3) project.
The project worth Tk 209 crore is being taken up for employment of youths in the third phase to improve the socio-economic condition.
The project will be implemented from January this year to December 2023 by the Department of Youth Development. Job opportunities for millions of youths will be created through environmentally friendly methods.
Masuda Akhand, director of the Department of Youth Development, said the project would provide employment to the youth, alleviate poverty and improve the environment.
Training will be given in order to keep the farm environment, she said adding that, fuel and organic fertilizers will be made.
“This will create a work environment for millions of young people. Keeping the environment free from pollution, the youths will have job opportunities,” she mentioned.
By providing training, they will be transformed into youth resources to accelerate economic growth and create opportunities for productive employment and self-employment, Masuda said.
However, one of the objectives of the project is to make the youth force aware about the benefits of introducing biogas methods on the farm.
By setting up biogas plants on integrated farms, biogas produced as an alternative fuel can create comfortable, healthy and time-efficient cooking opportunities, generate electricity, create a hygienic environment in cattle and poultry farms and produce high quality organic manure.
Women can take part in the development activities by reducing the use of fuel wood for cooking and developing the country by preventing deforestation.
The first phase was funded by the Government of Japan at a cost of Tk 20 crore and was implemented in 10 upazilas from July 2008 to 2011.
At this stage 4,038 biogas plants were set up. As a result, 5,970 youths have been benefited.
The government's Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) evaluated the impact (Phase-I) project.
On the basis of this, the project was taken up at a total cost of Tk 75 crore with government funding.
In the period from January 2014 to 2019, the second phase of the project titled “Integrated Technology-Based Integrated Resource Management (Phase II) for Poverty Alleviation” was successfully implemented in 66 upazilas of 61 districts in the country.
A total of 31,000 biogas plants have been set up in the second phase of the project.
Following this, initiatives were taken to implement the 3rd phase of the project to expand it based on local demand.
The main activities of the project are to set up 64,000 biogas plants. 1,28,000 jobs were created through the establishment of farms.
Besides, the phase includes training and workshops for 1,48,000 people and managing revolving credit funds of Tk 125 crore, purchase of vehicles and purchase of equipment and conduct of other work.
It is being taken up in 492 upazilas of 64 districts in the country. The project will be implemented in all upazilas of 64 districts in the country considering the rationale of selecting the project area, and will play a role in creating employment and self-employment of rural youth through setting up of biogas plants.