Poverty, being a multidimensional issue having different roots, needs to be combatted with well designed planning having a definite vision. Among all the alternatives, investment in the rural economy is considered to be the best strategic approach to address the poverty. The total population living in rural areas is at present 76.61% of which more than 45% are living below poverty line. Therefore, the natural focus of all programmes should be centered targeting population base and rural populace.

The reasons for poverty in rural areas of Bangladesh are almost the same as many other countries of the world but there are some differences in nature and diversity, which are as follows:

• Lack of opportunity of employment.
• Obstacle to access to resources.
• Absence of ownership of the land and farm equipment.
• Acute shortage of technical know how.
• Incapable and weak human resources.
• Lack of substantial support from the Government.
• Frequent occurrence of natural disasters and calamities .
• Lack of good governance to protect the rights of poor and distressed.
• Gender discrimination obstructing the women from gainful employment.
• Absence of easy transport and communication.
• Inadequate infrastructure facilitating the market economy.
• Less incentives to encourage local entrepreneurship.
• Absence of service facilities like electricity, gas and water supply.
• Contamination by Arsenic, water borne diseases and other common ailments.
• Malnutrition, absence of medical support specially for child and mother.

All these factors as indicated above are very much in existence in rural economy of Bangladesh. The national strategy for poverty alleviation of Bangladesh also identified most of these reasons and suggested remedial measures to achieve the targets of millenium development goals.

The budget placed, before the Parliament of Bangladesh for the FY 2006-2006, also earmarked around Tk 850 crore for rural farming, medium enterprises, agro-based industries, development of solar energy etc. The budget has some striking features for poverty alleviation in addition to subsidies and other assistances and incentives earmarked for agriculture. The interest rate against loan for agro sector ranges from 6-8% from state owned bank and PKSF. To develop the renewable energy in rural areas a fund with Tk 100 crore has been created. An allocation of Tk 150 crore has been proposed for small and medium enterprises in view of its better utilisation in the fiscal year 2005-2006. For the disbursement as micro-credit an amount of Tk 148 crore has been earmarked for few ministries or divisions operating on micro credit. The Special Fund for the Employment of Hardcore Poor by PKSF has been raised to Tk. 267 crore. The Endowment Fund of NGO Foundation has also been raised to TK 125 crore.

These initiatives and scattered allocations are in fact, pick and choose policy guided with spontaneous thinking or keeping in view particular projects or group of beneficiaries. To ensure macro economic stability and sustainable economy, there is definitely an urgent need for formulating a policy guideline to fight poverty with serious commitment .

The goal to reduce poverty by half within 2015 demands at least 9% growth in GDP every year. Since this is first year of 'National Strategy of Poverty Reduction Unlocking the Potential', the thrust areas must be identified and supported with well designed policy guideline to remove poverty from this soil.

Out of many area of interventions, the few areas need to be addressed right now are as follows:

Rural Employment Generation: The experience of India, Vietnam, Brazil, Mexico, Thailand in rural employment generation can be shared making necessary adjustments for our cultural heritage and capability of our human resource. In India, National Rural Employment Program is being implemented with remarkable success in the uplift of rural economy. This has prompted the Indian Parliament to pass the "Rural Employment Guarantee Bill" 2005. This is the largest programme of its type in terms of cost and coverage promising 100 days minimum wage employment to every rural household in 200 of Indian's 600 odd districts.

In Vietnam, the Government officially approved "National Target Programme on Hunger Elimination and Poverty Alleviation'' in 1998. A series of programmes is being implemented under this umbrella policy like settlement and new economic zones, farming and non-farming development, infrastructure improvement in difficult communes, agricultural forestry, fisheries extension, support to difficult ethnic minorities, provision for credit to marginal farmers, education and health care for the poor etc. In fact, Vietnam has successfully reformed its economy with clear identification of farmers' ownership, mobilisation of farmers in making decision on production, liberation of market to match market prices. These are major breakthroughs for a country like Vietnam with definite policy framework to fight poverty.

Solar Energy Development: In view of the acute crisis of power and fuel, there could be massive investment in building solar energy plants in rural areas. The experience of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries can be shared to give an impetus to our rural economy by developing our infrastructure for solar energy. In fact, solar energy will help promotion of backward linkage and agro-based industries in rural areas. The allocation of Tk 100 crore in the budget of 2006-2007 for creating Energy Development Fund can be utilised properly as a modest beginning of the initiative.

Investment for Rural Human Resource development: In fact, a big percentage of our population living in rural areas as underemployed or employed in disguise lack the skill and knowhow to work in trade or industry or the production of high value crop in the country. The need is not always the capital to start a trade or an enterprise. Most of the time the requirement of knowledge and expertise is the answer to undertake a venture profitable or remunerative. At present, there is an acute shortage of technical know how for poultry, fisheries, floriculture, and horticulture. The training Institutes of BRDB and Cooperatives Department besides TTDC campuses at upazila level are not used properly or are not capable of imparting skill development training . The government may invite trainers from abroad for growing mushroom, orchid, ornamental plants, tissue culture, pisciculture, horticulture, floriculture , milk production etc under a massive human resource program for rural areas. In fact, a lot of experts are working in Bangladesh in garment design, textile, leather industries etc. These experts are not contributing to the capability building of our population. They are only working on behalf of foreign buyers.

We need a policy guideline to develop a broad based technical know how group for the rural areas of the country.

Gender Equality: The result of many researches and case studies, conducted round the third world have proved a close relationship between gender equality and rural economic development. Women in rural areas are very keen and committed to involve themselves in gainful employment. In agriculture and horticulture, the involvement of women of Bangladesh in rural areas is historical like in many other countries of the world. Vietnamese women have actively participated in production and business activities sharing great proportion in workforce with significant leadership at local level including their domination at the family. Similarly, Mexican women have made remarkable contributions in rural economy due to massive support from the Government. Simple grants of micro-credit to widowed or distressed women for rearing hens and ducks, goats or cows or for weaving or producing handicraft cannot make the rural economy sustainable. It needs massive investment from the Government under a planned programme so that women can get an opportunity to develop their skill and capability and are in no way discriminated against regarding wage or employment.

To abolish poverty from a country or a society, the vision of the nation should be, "people prosperous, nation powerful, society just and civilized". Investment in rural economy by development of a rural infrastructure and enrichment of human resources with gainful employment in a vibrant economy can ensure the socio economic empowerment of the rural population. Economic power ultimately contributes to the growth of a healthy population, capable manpower, ensure food security and establish just and equitable society. In the long run, it pays to ensure good governance and establish rule of law in country.

Dhiraj Kumar Nath is a freelance contributor.