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New criteria for measuring poverty emphasised

By Staff Correspondent
Criticising the traditional growth approach, speakers at a dialogue put emphasis on the Inclusion of social security and Justice, moral values and other social indicators in the criteria for measuring the poverty situation in the country.
Noted economist Professor Anisur Rahman at the dialogue Saturday organised by Center for Policy Dialogue viewed that the contemporary economists werenot taking social Justice and equality into account to calculate the advancement of society.
Prof Rehman Sobhan Executive Chairman of CPD, presided over the function while Binayek Sen presented the key-note paper. Finance Minister SAMS Kibria was present as chief guest.
The dialogue was organised on the occasion of CPD's publication ceremony of its Independent Review of Bangladesh's Development 1996.
Among others, the discussion was addressed by State Minister for Planning and Civil Aviation. Mohiuddln Khan Alamglr, Fasihuddin Mahtab, former minister for agriculture and planning. SaTahuddin Ahmea of BRAC. Rashed Khan Menon of Workers' Party. Mu-Jahidul Islam Selim of Communist Party of Bangladesh.
. Sheikh Maqsood All. former
member of Bangladesh Planning Commission. Khusi Kabir and Atiur Rahman of BIDS and Swapan Adnan former Chairman of Department of Economies, Chittagong University.
Professor Rahman said in- ’ crease in income and calorie intake do not necessarily mean that these factors can alleviate poverty in a true sense.
"The unfortunate death of Yasmin of Dinajpur is sufficient to take lessons that improved diet or rationing or increase in income is not enough to secure life." ,
Rahman observed that now-a-days the poor people were being considered as livestocks' and not being involved in the development or poverty alleviation process.
Mujahldul Islam Selim said, "it is quite astonishing that we are discussing poverty alleviation after 25 years of our independence."
Only one ministry was working to alleviate poverty while other ministries were regenerating it. "We need radical approach and strategies to remove poverty." he maintained.
Selim suggested that a five-year national plan should be taken up to eradicate poverty.
Rashed Khan Menon said, "we cannot fight poverty unless
we establish poor people's social ownership on production." He observed that without change in the political system, social system couldn't be changed. Menon put emphasis on setting up strong local government bodies, one of the basic conditions for sustainable development, to empower rural and poor people.
Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir in his speech said there were many other reasons behind regeneration of poverty. The cause include "unequal distribution of state opportunities like education. health and loan facilities etc.
He said although the Constitution had empowered the mass people but their dreams could not be realised as there was no decision to make state activities pro-people.
He put emphasis on strong local government bodies and decentralisation of administration which, he alleged, could not be done due to resistance from a section of parliamentarians and leaders originated from Martial Law.
Alamgir also noted that a neutral administration, smallsized government and smooth delivery of education and other services might accelerate development process.