BRAC, a leading non-governmental organisation, has undertaken a Tk 2 crore special initiative to support the recently retrenched workers of jute mills, says a press release.

Initially, BRAC will help the workers of People's Jute Mill in Khulna.

Under the 'Social Protection Package for Retrenched State Owned Enterprise (SOE) Workers BRAC Kallyan Project', 1,000 workers of Khulna's People's Jute Mill will receive a one-time relocation allowance and their children will receive education allowance.

Besides, the retrenched workers' children with special needs will be brought under this initiative and special allowances will be given to any workers' family members suffering from ill health.

The initiative will subsequently be expanded to include workers from other jute mills. BRAC is conducting surveys and registration of retrenched workers and those who have retired voluntarily.

The BRAC Kallyan Project is currently working in various parts of

the country to offer information to the retrenched workers regarding other employment opportunities, healthcare for their families, skills development training and microfinance for enterprise development. Education facilities for the workers' children are being provided as well.

Since its inception in 2005, the programme has offered skills development and agricultural training to over 6,000 retrenched workers around the country and has, to date, disbursed over Tk. 6 .4 crore in

microcredit to these workers.

Over 3,500 children of the workers' have received more than Tk 44 lakh in education allowance and more than Tk 14 lakh has been spent on healthcare for 18,400 family members.

Moreover, 570 retrenched workers and their family members have received employment under this initiative.