The rural development and cooperatives division has sought an additional Tk 7.50 billion for 'one house one firm' project in the current fiscal despite its poor performance, officials said.
The project, known as Ektee Bari Ektee Khamar, failed to achieve its targets set for the FY 2016-17.
The project roped in fewer beneficiaries and deputation of some project manpower to Palli Sanchay Bank.
However, project officials have blamed the shortage of manpower, lack of coordination and flash floods in some areas of the country for the poor performance.
Meanwhile, the government in the annual development progamme (ADP) allocated Tk 7.72 billion to implement the project during the FY 2017-18.
The project now aims to form 25,000-30,000 gram unnayan samity (village development association) and select 1.5 to 1.8 million beneficiaries during the current fiscal.
Most of the projects in our country cannot utilise what is allocated in a financial year, said former finance adviser Dr AB Mirza Azizul Islam.
"If the project could not utilise its financial allocation in the current fiscal year budget by November or December, then additional allocation should not be granted or disbursed," he told the FE.
He, however, suggested a joint effort and strong monitoring to make sure that project meets the targets.
At present, there are only 5,511 employees against the authorised number of 11,627 for the project.
The project was set to implement between 2009 and 2016 to alleviate poverty in the country. And during the period, some 40,216 associations were formed.
The targets set in the development project profile of the project (third revised) will be challenging to meet as it will require forming 60,000 associations between 2017 and 2020.
"There will be a meeting on August 16 at the Prime Minister's Office on the issue. We hope to get an additional allocation to reach the target of the project," project director of Ektee Bari Ektee Khamar Akber Hossain told the FE.
He said that the project provided income-generating training to 119,250 people.
"We are taking steps to ensure coordinated efforts among the field level officials, especially upazila nirbahi officers to help reach the targets of the project," a high official of the ministry of local government, rural development and cooperatives told the FE.
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