The main objective of the programme is to enhance the capability of the beneficiaries through involving them in the long-term income generating activities to face the natural calamities courageously.

The poor community will be made self-confident through integrated relief and development activities along with the recycling of their resources to face the natural calamities.

According to the officials concerned, the three-year programme styled as "Programme for natural disaster-risk reduction" is being implemented in 70 disaster-prone upazilas under 27 districts across the country.

Of them, 46 upazilas under 14 northwestern districts, especially the 'monga-hit' ones, have been included in the programme.

An amount of Tk 50 crore has already been allocated for the programme in the current fiscal to provide each of the targeted families with an interest-free loan of Tk 5000 to Tk 10,000 for saturating them in the main stream of development.

Officials said the field level activities were being supervised jointly by local administration and relief and rehabilitation directorate of the disaster management and relief ministry.

Besides the monga-hit people, victims of other natural calamities like flood, cyclone, river erosion, landslide, drought, and earthquake are being given priority under the project.

Under the programme, the target people would be made self- reliant through their socio-economic development so that they would not need rehabilitation through relief in future.

The beneficiaries would be provided necessary training on various income generating activities like rearing and fattening of cows, poultry farming and pisciculture.

Sources said members of the civil society like teachers, religious leaders, social and development workers, voluntary organisations, gram sarkers and UP representatives would be included for the supervision of income generating activities.