Free primary education, special financial benefits for female students, large-scale training, and credit provisions for employing women and youth also contribute to poverty alleviation. In addition to Food for Work programs, VDG, RMP and the safety net programmes create employment and support the vulnerable groups. Major Groups Major groups participating in the decision-making on poverty issues include the landless and marginal farmers, urban poor, women, unemployed young people and other vulnerable groups. Both the Government and NGOs have to collaborate closely in combating poverty. Status Sustainable development is highly linked to economic, social and ecological factors.
Poverty greatly affects the environment.
The present development strategy for combating poverty, expanded health and sanitation facilities, population control, increased afforestation and social forestry involving the people would go a long way toward environmental improvement and poverty alleviation. The capacities of the governmental organizations, local governmental bodies and NGOs have to be developed, and people should be involved in the process of poverty alleviation programmes and environmental improvements. Public awareness raising through mass media will also be helpful in this respect. The Government finances poverty alleviation through revenue and development budgets, and NGOs have their own resources. This information is based on Bangladesh's submission to the 5th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, April 1997.