Urban Community Service (UCD) activities

City social service activities

Urban community development activities are being conducted with the aim of implementing the vision of establishing a better life and caring society in urban areas. Through the coordination of public-private initiatives, with the aim of social empowerment and improvement of quality of life of the backward and troubled population of the urban areas, organizing the target population, coordinating the activities of voluntary organizations, skill development training, undertaking social activities, providing interest-free micro-loans.

After the partition of India in 1947, Mohajers came to this country from India. This led to the emergence of various social problems including slum problems in the then provincial capital of Dhaka. In order to solve these problems, the government formed Dhaka Urban Community Development Board in 1955 according to the advice of experts sent from the United Nations. Urban Community Development Project (UCDP) was experimentally launched in 1955 in Kayetuli of Dhaka as part of the action plan of this board.

In the same year, in view of the success of this project, the project was included in the five-shala plan of the central government and the program was expanded to Gopibagh, Lalbagh and Mohammadpur areas of Dhaka city. In 1960, activities were conducted through a total of 16 units including 12 under this project in different cities of Bangladesh. After the establishment of the Department of Social Welfare in 1961, the scheme continued to grow and expand.

In view of the needs of poor people living in urban areas, this program was gradually increased to 43 units till June 1996. In view of the growing demand, 7 more Urban Social Development Program Units were established in July 1996 under the name 'Development and Expansion of Urban Social Service Programme-Phase 1'. This brings the total number of units to 50 in 34 districts.

In continuation of this, 30 units were set up in the remaining 30 districts of the country under the project titled 'Development and Expansion of Urban Social Service Programme-2nd Phase' in the financial year 2002-2005. At present, city social development programs are being implemented through a total of 80 city social service offices including all city corporations and district cities.

Skill development training is a developmental program under Urban Social Development Program to achieve vision, vision and goals of Urban Social Development Programme. Through this program, their skills will be developed to improve the quality of life of the youth community in the area covered by the urban social development program. According to various research reports, one third of the total population of Bangladesh is between 10 and 24 years old.
About 2 million young people enter the labor market every year. By 2025, the labor force of this country will reach 76 million. In order to make this huge human resource efficient, the Department of Social Services will implement this program through a skill-based training system in line with the national skill development policy for backward, troubled and marginalized people. This training program will be conducted in accordance with the National Skill Development Policy and the method prescribed by the government from time to time.

Definitions.- Unless contrary to the purpose and context in this Policy-

(a) Authority means the Department of Social Services.

(b) Government shall mean the Ministry of Social Welfare.

(c) Director General means the Director General of the Department of Social Services.

(d) Branch means the Urban Social Development Program (UCD) Branch of the Department of Social Services.

(e) Board shall mean the Bangladesh Technical Education Board. (f) office shall mean the concerned city social service office under the Social Services Department. (g) Recognized Institution means an institution approved by the Government.

(h) Registering Authority means the Department of Social Services in accordance with the Voluntary Social Welfare Organizations (Registration and Regulation) Ordinance, 1961;

                       (j) Coordinating Council means a voluntary social welfare organization registered under the Voluntary Social Welfare Organizations (Registration and Regulation) Ordinance, 1961 under the concerned City Social Services Office.

Vision Improving the quality of life of low-income people in urban areas and establishing a caring society. Mission Socio-economic empowerment and quality of life development of backward and troubled communities in urban areas through coordination of public-private initiatives.

Goals (1) Assisting in the coordination and registration of activities of volunteers and voluntary organizations; (2) encouraging private and voluntary social service initiatives; (3) strengthening family and social ties, morals and social values; (4) organizing through working groups; (5) inculcating saving spirit among party members and building own funds through creation of savings;