Speakers at a function Wednesday called for taking sustainable development projects for dalit community, the most vulnerable section of society, instead of distributing micro-credit among them.
Terming dalits craftsmen, they said the excluded community would be able to contribute a lot to the national economy if they get proper training and financial support from the government.
At a press conference at the National Press Club, dalit representatives of called the government for a project on the development of the community with huge budgetary allocation.
Three non-government organisations — SHAREE, Bangladesh Dalit Nari Andolon and Oxfam — arranged the function.
Priya Bala Biswas, executive director of SHAREE, Ranjan Bakshi Nupu, deputy coordinator, Baby Rani Das, member secretary of Bangladesh Dalit Nari Andolon, and Jagadish Chandra Das, president of Horijan Sebak Samity, spoke at the event.
They said the government has allocated Tk 146.1 million in the proposed fiscal budget for dalits for their improved lifestyle.
The government allocated Tk 100 million in the last fiscal, but the fund remains unused.