Addressing the 38th board meeting of PAF-the prime minister himself is the chairman of the Fund-PM Bhattarai said, “If there is any thing that challenges sustainable peace it is poverty. Hence, there is a need to deepen PAF´s presence in the districts where it is already present and expand its programs to the districts from where it has remained absent so far.” [break]
He also committed all possible support of the government for the expansion.
PAF, implementing targeted anti-poverty program, is currently supporting income generating and infrastructure development programs in 40 districts. So far, it has provided direct grant assistance to 544,000 poor households through locally formed community organizations.
The government has announced of further expanding its programs in 10 new districts by the end of this fiscal year.
PM Bhattarai also asked the fund to implement its programs in coordination with related government agencies to avoid both duplication of program and to secure and empower the poor by providing them various technical supports.
“Fundamentally, PAF should serve as umbrella agency for implementing anti-poverty programs,” he said, urging the fund management to make efforts for transforming rural economy, job creation and linking rural agro-pockets with markets. Dr Bhattarai also asked PAF to bring conflict-hit and displaced people in Tarai and landless poor within its programs´ net.
During the meeting PAF senior officials presented achievements of the fund so far. Referring to the findings of independent studies, PAC Vice Chairman Vidhyadhar Mallik said that households that received PAF support from 6 to 19 months have witnessed rise in their consumption capacity by 49 percent, increased food availability by 10 percent.
“Likewise, households that are associated with PAF programs for three years have witnessed an average rise in their income by 82.5 percent,” said Mallik.
Established with the financial support of the World Bank, PAF has so far received US$ 140 million in grant assistance from the bank.
The bank has also committed additional support of US$ 75 million for expanding its programs. Department for International Development and government have also been providing financial support to the fund.
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