Gonoshasthaya Kendra launched the Poverty Alleviation Program in 1976 at Savar and 1996 at Cox’s Bazar. The program includes social forestry, fisheries, livestock rearing, health care, disaster management, water and sanitation, small assistance for post cyclone house repair etc. program through skill training and distribution of micro credit amongst target beneficiaries at Cox’s Bazar areas.

GK initiated 88 km of roadside and bamboo block plantation supported with medicinal, short and long term timber and fruit saplings. GK introduced intermediate crops like banana, pineapple, spices like ginger, turmeric.

GK has planted 5330 banana, 288700 pineapple, 77,575 Muli and 4153 Barak bamboo.All these plants are short term could be harvested between one to three years. Moreover, each plant could be used for multiplication of saplings to ensure its availability at the community level. GK also established one nursery for fruit, timber and medicinal plants at Gundhum with more then 100 thousand timbers and fruit saplings ready for immediate plantation.

GK has selected 300 acres to ensure benefit of 300 people at the denuded hills of Gundhum. At present GK has 81,728 bamboo to ensure supply 60,000 rhizome for 25 acres Fruit block plantation. GK will purchase saplings for 10 acres Medicinal plant saplings during 1999-2002.

Forest resources were severally damaged by three consecutive cyclones of 1991, 1994 and 1997. GK found that immediate after 1991 cyclone, forest resources of Coxs Bazar and Bandarban districts were partly threatened by a quarter of a million Myanmar refugees in need of shelter and daily fuel.

GK identified Gundham as one of the project area. Gundhum is a Union of 10,000 people under Naikhongchhuri thana of Bandarban Hill district. It is a border area of Bangladesh and Myanmar and adjacent to Ukhia thana of Cox’s Bazar district.

GK began working in Gundham since 1992. The people of Gundhum are very poor and they frequently go to Myanmar for cutting timber and bamboo for their livelihood.

GK with its limited experience wants to be a partner of the development effort of hill districts through integration of factory, fisheries, livestock rearing supported by health care and education in those denuded hill areas by ensuring participation of the target beneficiaries.