by crossriverwatch admin
The Cross River State Government, under its rural development and poverty reduction program, has disbursed over N1.6 billion to some communities in the state.
The disbursement is meant to help communities implement need-based micro projects that will contribute to the reduction of poverty and improve living standards.
A release from the Cross River State Community and Social Development Agency explained that the amount released was in pursuance of the State Government’s thrust on sustainable rural development.
It also stated that the Agency, which was created in 2009, has the mandate to increase access of poor people to improved social and natural resource infrastructure service. It revealed that the support provided by the State Government within the project life has seen the agency achieving an unprecedented feat that has placed the State as the best performing on the project among the 26 participating States and Abuja.
According to the release, government has funded 247 Community Development Plans, (CDPs) comprising 673 micro-projects in key sectors of health, education, transport, environment, water, Socio-economic, rural electrification, gender and vulnerability.
It said the outcome created by the intervention have far reaching effects on the fight against poverty and the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals, (MDGs).
The result and output of the project as revealed by the impact survey conducted by an independent consultant shows that in the education sector 374 classrooms have been constructed, rehabilitated and furnished.
The evaluation result also stated that in the health sector, 53 health centers and 55 staff quarters have been constructed and equipped while in the water sector, 50 mini water schemes and 54 hand pump boreholes have been completed and put into use; resulting in an increase in the percentage of people using water and a reduction in distance to water sources.
The report stated that the transport sector witnessed a reduction in travel time by 29.7 minutes to the nearest community because of the construction of 24 mini bridges and 72 culverts while the socio-economic sector, got a boost by 20 per cent increase in the persons trained in skill acquisition with the construction of 106 lock up stalls 397 open market stalls and 8 skill acquisition centers.
Also, the output in the electricity sector showed that electricity was extended to one community and following this, 20 households got connected, 2 small scale businesses were established while there was an increase in the use of electrical gadgets.
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