Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF)
www.pksf-bd.org
Instant actions by PKSF to help cyclone affected
microcredit borrowers.

The devastating cyclone SIDR pounded the southern belt of the country on 15th November night. During each disaster, PKSF undertakes relief/rehabilitation activities through its partner NGOs. Given the intensity of devastation wrought by the SIDR, PKSF has undertaken the following emergency initiatives through its 32 partner NGOs working in the affected areas. A special meeting of all PKSF officials has been convened on 25th November for formulating a comprehensive action plan to fight the disaster on the basis of feedback from desk/supervisor officers who are in the field for appraising the extent of disaster.

1. The partner NGOs have been asked to undertake immediate relief operations (providing dry food, medicine, water purifying tablets etc) using the surplus earned from the microcredit operations. PKSF would make up the shortfall, if any, on this account;

2. The partner NGOs have been asked to strictly ensure that there must not be any persuasion for repayment/recovery of loan installment from the affected microcredit borrowers;

3. The partner NGOs have been asked to apply for rescheduling of their dues to PKSF as a result of any eventual default due to temporary suspension of recovery in the field as mentioned in para 2 above;

4. The partner NGOs have been asked to ensure that the microcredit borrowers are allowed to withdraw their savings freely as and when demanded by them;

5. PKSF has already created a Disaster Management Fund to meet such exigencies. The partner NGOs/microcredit borrowers can access to this fund. The partner NGOs have been asked to avail this fund to carry out the relief/rehabilitation activities;

6. The partner NGOs have been asked to take preparation to carry out a massive rehabilitation program by extending seasonal credit to the microcredit beneficiaries (members) for winter crop cultivation. PKSF would provide necessary funding for this purpose;

7. This year’s cyclone (SIDR) has imposed a heavy toll on the houses of the people specially the poor. PKSF has taken initiatives to create a special fund amounting to Taka 500.00 million to provide long term interest free loan to the affected microcredit borrowers to re-construct their houses;

An emergency cell has been opened at PKSF and the partner NGOs have been asked to contact the coordinator of the cell Mr. Golam Touhid ,DGM ( Cell: +88001711 839442) or Mr. Saleh Bin Shams ( +88001714 072041) as and when required.