The 'Zero Poverty Special Loan Progamme' was launched at the directive of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to create job opportunities to farm labourers and marginal farmers in five northern districts of Nilphamari, Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram and Gaibandha.

Last year at the time of its launching, it was declared that Tk 5 crore would be disbursed to ultra-poor people during pre-harvest period of 'aman' cultivation season in Bangla month of Aswin and Kartik (mid-September to mid- November). Ultra-poor would be directly benefited as the loan was mortgage-free having minimum interest rate of 5 to 6 per cent and repayable in 48 equal weekly installments.

Last year only Tk 27.25 lakh were disbursed but this year not a single paisa was disbursed till now as there is no fund or any loan allotment.

Priority was given to provide loan to blacksmiths, handicrafts makers, artisans, coppersmiths, sweetmeats, fried rice makers, village carpenters and people engaged in traditional and extinct professions like weaving of fishing nets and hand embroidered quilts (Nakshi Kantha). Each beneficiary was supposed to receive loan between Tk 500 and 10,000, according to skills.

Four upazilas in Nilphamari district like Dimla, Domar, Jaldhaka, and Kishoreganj were brought under the programme at the initial stage while Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (Rakub) was loan sanctioning authority.

According to sources in Nilphamari Zonal office of Rakub, as many as 763 people of various professions were provided with Tk 27.25 lakh loan last year. But the loan was of little help to five lakh ultra-poor people in the district.

It was gathered, similar situation prevailed in four other districts.

When contacted, Nilphamari Rakub Zonal manager Ashraf Hossen told this correspondent this year there is no fund for 'Zero Poverty Special Loan Programme' although the government did not withdraw the programme.

. He said that the bank is providing loan to the ultra- poor through 'Poverty Alleviation Programme' and 'Swanirvar Programme. This year an amount of Tk 14 lakh was distributed under the two programmes. Man power shortage is another factor for failure of the programme, he said.