Last Updated (15 Dec 2009)
Microcredit
Poverty alleviation has appeared to be the focal point of all policy formulation and development issues of the nation. As such, it has been globally accepted as an effective strategy for poverty alleviation in one hand and generating employment opportunities on the other.
In commitment to reduce poverty in urban, semi-urban and rural areas, Sonali Bank Limited has started functioning in Micro Credit through a full pledged micro credit division in its Head Office in the year 2003. Presently, 32 projects/programmes are being run under the control and supervision of this Division. Among all others programmes, Bank-NGO Linkage program and Credit for Urban Women Micro Enterprise Development (CUMED) in Dhaka City, Goat rearing, Lamb rearing, Fruit, Herbal, Medicinal and Nursery Project, Micro- enterprise program- ‘Unmesh’ in Moulavibazar district, MSFSCIP in Kurigram district, Loan for Disable Persons etc. deserve special mention for channelising the financial resources into the various potential avenues of microfinance.
Sonali Bank Limited jointly with Swanirvar Bangladesh, BRDB and ADB has been providing huge investible funds into the different Upazillas within the country. 152 Upazillas have been covered by the Rural Livelihood Programme (RLP). Further, this Division has provided taka 179.09 crore to 68 NGO’s under its widely accepted Bank-NGO Linkage Programme on whole sale basis and whose recovery rate is 100%. Specially, for the disable people Disable Loan Programme has been undertaken to bring the disable section of the people under the micro credit facilities. The Goat Rearing Programme undertaken by this Division has been running with a remarkable impact in reducing the rate of massive- scale rural poverty. Sonali Bank has already disbursed 46.47 crore upto 31 December, 2007.
Further, in order to create employment opportunities and to generate income of the rural people two loan schemes under the name and style " Rural Small Farming Loans scheme " and "Rural Small business loan" scheme have been introduced in-2004 . In both the programs there is a provision of collateral free loan upto Tk. 50,000/- . In 2006 a new program has been introduced named ‘‘ Daridra Bimochane Sahayta Karmasuchi’’for the extremely ‘Monga’ affected rural people. Moreover, in 2007 a special program has been introduced for SIDR affected 12 areas in which there is a provision of collateral free loan upto TK.20,000/-.
Upto December 2007, Tk. 3299.47 crore has been disbursed under various project/ programs of this Division where as this disbursement figure was Tk. 3056.63 crore upto December 2006. The key features of some running projects/Programs of Micro Credits given as follows:-
Features :
SL. Project/Programs Target group Loan size in Tk. Rate of Interest
1 Swanirvar Credit Program Poor Landless people 1,000-15,000
2 Crop Godown Credit Project Small & Medium Farmers Highest 10,000
3 Sonai Bank -BARD, Comilla Priogik Gabesana Rin Prokalpa Bittahin rural male & female Highest 10,000
4 Sonai Bank- RDA, Bogra Priogik Gabesana Rin Prokalpa Bittahin rural male & female Highest 10,000
5 Marginal and Small Farms System Crop Intensification program(MSFSCIP) Marginal, Poor & Small Farmers Highest 10,000
6 Herbal & Forestry, Medicinal Plant & Nursery Development Credit program Bittahin, Poor Energetic Youth 5,000-25,000
7 Grameen Khudra Babsa Rin Karmasuchi Poor People Highest 50,000
8 Daridra Bimochane Sahayta Rin Karmasuchi Hard Core Poor People 5,000-10,000
9 Loans to Disable People Disabled People 25,000-50,000
10 Unmesh Credit Program Micro Entrepreneurs 50,000-2,00,000
11 Goat Rearing Credit Program Small &Medium Entrepreneurs Highest 50,000
12 Credit for Urban Women Micro Enterprise Development (CUMED) Urban Women Entrepreneurs Highest 5,00,000
13 Bank-NGO linkage Credit Program Poor People Highest 5000-50,000(Loan Wholesaling to NGOs)
14 Khudra Khamar Rin Karmasuchi Small Entrepreneurs Highest 50,000
15 Salt Production Credit Program Actual Salt Producer 5,000-12,500
16 Individual Irrigation / Agriculcural Equipment Credit Program Small, Marginal & Medium Farmers 10,000-16,500
17 BRDB Crop Credit Program Small, Marginal & Medium Farmers 8,000-15,000
18 BRDB Integrated Rural Development Program Co operative Poor Male & Female Member 1,500-20,000
19 BRDB Rural Livelihood Program Small, Marginal & Medium Farmers 5,000-20,000
20 BRDB -Shrimp Culture Credit Program Small, Marginal & Medium Farmers 2,333-28,000
21 Special Loan for SIDR affected Area SIDR affected People Highest 20,00