CHTRDP-II

Chittagong Hill tracts Rural Development Project-2

To help increase rural household incomes in CHT subproject areas, in July 2011, the Asian
Development Bank (ADB) approved the second Chittagong Hill Tracts Rural Development. The
Project aims to increase in average annual household income and increase income generating
opportunities for men and women in subproject areas. ADB’s South Asia Department, which
focuses on sustainable infrastructure, climate change mitigation and adaptation, human
development, regional cooperation and integration, public-private partnership, and good
governance. Zabarang is a local NGO is involved in the mobilization of the grassroots communities,
facilitating implementation of project activities and where relevant, in technical backstopping.

Duration: December 2013 to December 2018.
Donor: Government of Bangladesh and Asian Development Bank (Consortium
Project Areas: Laxmichari, Manikchari and Ramghor Upazila of Khagrachari District (Worked in
total 43 Villages).
Project Goals: To contribute to a reduction in the incidence of poverty in CHT and provide suitable
implementation arrangements to underpin the CHT Accord and strengthen key institution to help
meet their mandated role.
Project Objective: To increase employment and income generating opportunities for the
population through community participatory subproject development outputs including:

Outcomes of the project:

Selective rural access
Small-scale water resources interventions,
Watershed management,
Community infrastructure, and
Promotion of small agri-business opportunities
Expected outcomes:
Measurable increased economic opportunities for rural poor, especially women and
vulnerable groups in IP communities; and
Improved watershed conditions, especially soil erosion and water conservation that will
underpin the investments made in water and land improvements, ultimately
contributing in lower sedimentation rate of Kaptai reservoir with ensuring economic
returns.

Dewan Para, Laxmichari Upazila: ADB official visit to project activities

CHTRDP Intervention changing the socio-economic conditions of Lachari Para

Lachari Para is situated under the Ramgorh Sadar Union of Rangorh Upazila under the Khagrachhari Hill District. The distances’ from the Ramgorh Upazila town to Lachari Para is about 26 kilometers and from Khagrachhari District Town Lachari Para is about 80 kilometers. The location of the para is near the international border in between Bangladesh and India (Tripura state). The area of the Para is about 200 acre. There is total 76 household in the Para including 10 woman lead household. All of the residence of the Para is Marma community. According to the survey report in 2018 under the project of the para, total population is 304 including male 154 and female 150. The number of the solvent family are 6, poor family is 25 and ultra-poor family is 46.
The major problem of the Para was poor communication infrastructure, lack safe drinking water access, lack of irrigation facilities and agricultural instrument for modern cultivation. Due to poor communication infrastructure the para people cannot take and bring different goods easily. Due to lack of safe water access the residence of the para always face different type of water borne diseases such as skin disease, diarrhea, hepatitis, cholera and others. Due to lack of irrigation and modern agricultural equipment they cannot cultivate their land properly. A woman of the Para Ms. Rumra Marma said, “Lack of safe water access is a major problem of our para. Due to that we are facing different type of disease In the above situation, the Para was selected under the CHTRDP-II project. After that, there are arranged need assessment against the problem of para people. According to the decision of para people, there are installed 4 shallow tub wells, 500 miters road are constructed with brick soling, 434 miters irrigation drain, 1 Pump Machine and 1 Water Pump Machine.

After the above project activities, the Para people can now take and bring different types of goods easily. They are also now able to move from their Para to other places easily with vehicle. They are also getting safe water from the tub-wells. They are also able to cultivate their fellow land due irrigation access and pump machine.
As a result, earning opportunity is created, water borne diseases are also reduced and the coverage of
cultivation is also increase accordingly. A residence of Lachari Para Mr. Chuthuwai Marma said, “Due to development of road with brick soling we are now can take our agricultural products to the market easily. The rural businessmen are also now coming to collect different type agricultural product from us due rood access.” Other one villager Mr. Thuimong Marma said, “The irrigation drain is contributing to cultivate our land. Before the drain construction we cannot cultivate our land more than once in a year but now we can cultivate for 2 or 3 times in a year. As a result our production is now increased.” A woman of the Para Ms. Rumra Marma said, “Due to installation of tube-well we are now getting safe water from the tube well. As a result, different type water borne diseases are also decrease from the para people.”

In this above circumstances, we see that the intervention of CHTRDP II project is making positive change of Lachari Para people. Their now very happy about the project activities. In fact, if such type project is really help para people to bring a positive change in urgent for them.

Different scenario before and after implementation of CHTRDP II project in Lachari Para, Ramgorh