SUPPLEMENTARY INCOME-GENERATION IN BANGLADESH : PROPOSAL FOR THE
WORK-HOUSE COMPLEX
(Part Five)
03.00 ENDEAVORS TO ERADICATE POVERTY
07.00 COMPARISON BETWEEN THE ON-GOING POVERTY ERADICATION
SCHEMES AND "THE WORK-HOUSE COMPLEX"
We present hereunder brief descriptions of the various poverty
eradication schemes now under practice along with some of their
limitations :
(01) One time contribution in cash and kind : It may solve the
problem of a man for the time being, but it cannot bring any permanent
solution. Since there is no certainty regarding the availability of
such help, the needy person cannot rely on them. Also, if such help is
given on a regular basis, then the probable recipients may become
dependent on those. It may also lead to the generation of 'false'
needy persons. In most cases the distribution or disbursements of such
help are associated with corruption.
(02) Loan : Bank loans have the limitations that only the persons
capable of keeping collateral are considered for the same. Prof. Yunus
has devised a process of giving loan without collateral. But its
incidental cost in selecting the right 'person' and to ensure
repayment is so high that it has already been proved uneconomic. Loans
have other limitations also. Some of these are : a). Loans are given
only to those persons who are capable of doing some type of
profitable business. Naturally the other needy persons, who constitute
the majority and do not fulfill these criterion are deprived from its
benefit. b). There is no guarantee that a person taking loan would be
able to continue profitable business for all time to come. On the
other hand many such persons have been found to have lost the capital
due to unprecedented reasons and become poor again.
(03) Continuous funding for poverty eradication : The fund for
poverty eradication comes from the government and foreign donors.
Whether or not the activities of the disbursing and distributing
authorities successful in eradicating poverties, such authorities
always consider their activities 'profitable'. It is often said that
those associated with such acts do not want to see poverty eradicated,
but to continue for all time to come.
POSITIVE ASPECTS OF THE "WORK-HOUSE COMPLEX" :
For peaceful coexistence of the citizens, a permanent solution for
eradication of poverty is a must for each and every country. The
government machinery or the NGO's have failed to work out any
permanent solution to this problem either because the systems they
follow are not fruitful, or they are not interested to see poverty to
vanish. A permanent solution to poverty with or without government
subside is much better than pouring money incessantly in the name of
its eradication and maintaining huge number of employees under pay
role. In the poor capitalist country in which there is no provision to
help the underprivileged, any proposal that can ensure supplemental
income for the underprivileged and survival for the worst sufferers
should be welcomed. It may be noted that one time help to the needy
people acts exactly like what the alms do to the beggars. The benefit
of loan, as presently practiced by the commercial banks or NGO's may
be enjoyed by a minute section of the needy people. Even though loans
presents 'big dream' before the needy people, there is no guarantee
that it would ensure permanent solution.
In such a context, a better way is to make such persons work according
to their ability and then to make payment. Three-course meal and
shelter for the shelter less people would be the minimum payment.
Further remuneration in terms of money may be paid to those who work
beyond certain hours, or who do not avail meal or shelter. It is
obvious that the remuneration will not be very 'lucrative', because
the complex would use the 'surplus value of their labor' for
maintenance and expansion.
08.00 CONCLUSION
In the twenty-first century, communism has practically breathed its
last in the countries of its birth and the world has stepped in the
era of capitalism. It indicates that in the coming days Bangladesh
would come under increasing influences of capitalism. In capitalism
the government patronizes the large capitalists to exploit the
country's wealth and man-power for further generation of wealth and
increase of profit. In such a reality, the greater section of people
is deprived of the bare minimum needs even in the rich and developed
capitalist countries. Such countries, in general, solve the problem
through a number of schemes, of which 'social security scheme' is
prominent. In such scheme the government provides sustenance allowance
to the workers who suddenly loose their jobs, those who have no job
etc. This scheme also takes care of food and lodging of the old and
sick citizens. Needless to mention that a government needs to be
extremely resourceful in order to enact such schemes. Financially
speaking, the government of Bangladesh is not in a position to run
such a scheme for the huge number of unemployed youths, not to say
anything about the less-privileged people. On the other hand, the
number of such people would keep on increasing with the expansion of
capitalism. This would result in the sufferings of millions and
degradation of their moral character.
In such a context, establishment of 'Work-house complex" has been
proposed as a means of (i) Survival of the jobless people, (ii)
Shelter for the old, sick and abandoned people and for (iii)
Supplementary income of the low-paid workers.
The Welfare Ministry of the Government and the NGO's have been running
various programs, schemes and projects for the welfare of the
less-privileged people. If any of their activities was proved
successful, then probably there would be no need to search for "an
innovative and practical idea that would improve the lives of low- and
middle- income people of Bangladesh (everyone except the top-third of
the population in terms of annual income)". We have formulated the
above proposal of "Work-house Complex" which, we believe will be able
to bring long lasting solution. However, it is only a schematic
proposal with scopes for further refinement, modification and
expansion.
We shall consider our effort a great success if this proposal can
bring any benefit to the less privileged people of Bangladesh.
PROF. BIJON B. SARMA, HEAD ARCHITECTURE DISCIPLINE, KHULNA UNIVERSITY,
KHULNA, BANGLADESH.
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