Program Support Fund

PKSF implements a wide range of poverty alleviation programs to ensure sustainable socio-economic development of the poor. As part of its multifaceted programs, PKSF formed the ‘Program Support Fund (PSF)’ out of its own fund on 30 June 2011. The objective of the Fund is to provide financial assistance including flexible loans as well as other necessary support for education, health, disaster management and different social development activities that contribute to upgrading the quality of the lives of families having membership of PKSF programs and projects.

Up to June 2021, BDT 225 crore has been transferred from PKSF’s core fund to the Program Support Fund. Besides, the Fund has earned BDT 186.78 crore in bank interest. BDT 119.11 crore has already been spent for the ENRICH program implementation, education scholarships, healthcare activities for slum dwellers, special assistance to the victims of natural disasters like-floods, cyclones etc, potable water supply and sanitations activities in Rohingya camps, and socio-economic development of small ethnic groups to improve their living standards. As of now, the total amount of PSF stands at BDT 292.67 crore.

A significant portion of money from this Fund is used to provide education scholarships among the meritorious children of the ultra-poor program/project participants of PKSF. In addition, children of the poor freedom fighters and different disadvantaged groups are also covered under the program. These scholarships are provided to facilitate their learning, encourage them to pursue education, and improve the quality of education. Since the Fund’s establishment, a total of 30,651 students have received scholarships totaling BDT 39.65 crore approximately.

In FY 2020-2021, about BDT 5.43 crore was provided as scholarships to 4,519 students (1,342 students from the 1st phase, 3,177 students from the 2nd phase). Each student received BDT 12,000 from the Fund. Generally, students from the higher secondary level are selected for the scholarships. However, students from disadvantaged families such as dalits, bedes, sex workers, beggars and students with disabilities from the secondary level are also included in the program. In some special cases, scholarships are also given to students pursuing technical education or studying at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.