Mini ‘food bank’ serves as saviour in their hard times

The people of Adarshapara cluster village in Gajaria union of Fulchhari upazila under the district have set up a mini ‘food bank’ to meet hard times like off-crop period.The cluster village set up by the government in a char (landmass emerged from riverbed) of Jamuna basin provides shelter for 60 ultra-poor landless families comprising 750 people. They are virtually dependent on earning from work as day labourers.Inspired by local NGO SKS Foundation and an initial grant of Tk 25,000 from donor agency Oxfam GB, 25 people including several women of the village formed a social organisation with a five-member committee to run it. Besides, two persons were selected as joint custodians to open the locks of the food bank.The members started saving from their little earnings as the mini food bank started in late 2012.Now they have 75 members and the saving has crossed Tk 40 thousand.“During hard time, any member can borrow rice or pulse from here on condition to return it within a fortnight,” said Amirul Islam, secretary of the ‘food bank management committee’.Visiting the food bank on September 2, this correspondent witnessed a meeting of the organisation and the committee at their office-cum bank in a tin-shed house of the cluster village.“A few days ago, our family faced problem as my husband had gone to a different place for work. I borrowed 10 kg of rice from the food bank and overcame the crisis. I returned the amount after 12 days when my husband returned,” said Obiron Nessa, wife of day labourer Eman Ali.The bank does not charge any interest for such services, said several beneficiaries including Kakoli Begum, Amena Begum and Sajeda Begum.“The mini food bank is a laudable example. Now they can solve the problem from their own resource,” said Hasen Ali, local ward member of Gajaria union parishad.The food bank so far provided rice and pulse to 37 families in crisis period and so, they did not have to borrow money from usurers for high interest, said Earon Begum, president of committee.Witnessing the success at Adarshapara, people of more seven villages set up similar food banks in their villages, said Osman Ghani, project manager of SKS Foundation.