Land minister Shamsur Rahman Sherif on Saturday distributed stipend among students from the Harijan and small ethnic communities at Iswardi in Pabna.
He disbursed Tk 4 lakh among 331 students from minority groups while Tk 1 lakh among 102 students from Harijan community at an event held at Iswardi upazila parishad, said a PID handout here.
Besides, the minister handed over cheque of Tk 3.10 lakh from his discretionary fund to different organizations and individuals.
Addressing the event, the minister said prime minister Sheikh Hasina is implementing various innovative techniques to alleviate poverty from the grassroots small ethnic and Harijan communities.
A quota system was introduced for them in the jobs, he said, adding that no government took such initiatives in the past.
Deputy commissioner of Pabna Rekha Rani Balo and Iswardi upazila chairman Mukhlesur Rahman also spoke at the event presided over by Iswardi upazila nirbahi officer Shakil Mahmud.
