MIDAS Financing Ltd and Management and Resources Development Initiative (MRDI) have distributed eco-friendly ovens among families in Bon Laudob village in the Sundarbans in a bid to help save the ecosystem of the forest.
The joint initiative will use corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds as an alternative social development support to minimise the environmental threats arising from the cutting of trees to be used as fuel.
The support package includes provision of training for maintenance and further production of the ovens. Manusher Jonno Foundation is supporting the initiative while Green World Communication Ltd will implement it on behalf of MIDAS and MRDI. MIDAS, a financial institution, has provided the ovens for 355 families in Bon Laudob.
The ovens are expected to improve the environment by reducing carbon emission and use of trees as fuel. Moreover, the initiative will save time and labour of the villagers, reducing physical injury and death in the forest by natural means and wildlife.
Grameen Shakti has manufactured the ovens, which will save 50 to 70 percent fuel consumption if used properly, MRDI said.
Speaking at the distribution function, Rokia Afzal Rahman, former adviser to the caretaker government, and also chairman of MIDAS, called upon villagers to make the best use of the ovens, and water to keep themselves, particularly their children, safe from health hazards and environmental pollution.
Addressing the villagers, Hasibur Rahman, executive director of MRDI, said the initiative aims at securing life and health of the village people in terms of preventive and curative aspects. These small initiatives will benefit the society at large and take CSR programmes forward to build a caring society, he added.
Shafique-ul-Azam, managing director of MIDAS Financing, expressed his satisfaction on this project serving the people of a remote village.
Hedaitul Islam Helal, chairman of Green World Communication, hoped to provide all possible support to the people of this village of the Sundarbans.
Earlier, Bank Alfalah Ltd had extended support to address the acute problem of safe water in the same village as a part of their CSR initiative. Re-excavation of four ponds of the village is going on under this scheme.
