The new year will sec computers go to rural Bangladesh.

The Department of Youth Development plans to set up computer training centres at the thana levels In the very first year of the new millennium.

At present there are 69 computer centres, but the department plans to expand it in all 460 thanas of the country. Besides It plans to expand its youth training centres from 21 districts to 64 districts. M Slra-Jul Islam. DG of the Department told The Dally Star.

The department is also planning to Initiate a family-based employment programme for poverty alleviation of rural landless people, the DG said, adding that the programme will be undertaken In 50 selected thanas at the beginning.

The programme of the de-Kartment is unique because it as developed over the years. Irrespective of the parties that came to power, acknowledged the present DG M Slrajul Islam and also the former DG Fazlul Huq. who is now the additional secretary at the commerce ministry.

The micro-credit programme of the department totals nearly Tk 350 crore officials said adding that the recovery rate of the loan is about 95 per cent and that the department does not have any ’bad loan'.

The Department of Youth Development has so far Imparted training to about 5.5 lakh youngsters under Its youth training and self employment project, according to official sources.

The idea of youth development was conceived In 1973 and special allocation was made for some projects, sources said, adding, the department was finally ready to go Into action In 1981.

The programme suffered a little set back In the subsequent years but picked up again from 1991.

The programme was taken upto thana levels during the early 90s. The BNP government expanded the department's programme upto 230 thanas sources said adding the remaining thanas of the country were linked under the department's programme by the present Awami League government.

The thrust ol the department is to organise the youth, motivate them, provide them skilltraining and help them with micro credit and then supervise the whole operation very closely, source said.

1.' This, in return, has generated a skilled self-employed youth who is highly motivated for his own development and development of tne family and the society.