4.e) Cost of the project
Regardless of all its success in recent years, the Academy
has received an increasing number of critical comments in
Pakistan as well as from abroad. Frequently critized is the
cost of work. The scheme is said to be very expensive.
This is difficult to evaluate. While it is possible to add
all the money the Academy received over the years, it is difficult
to calculate other contributions. From 1960 to 1968, the financial
support by the Pakistan Government added up to 2.37 million
US dollar (the rupee is evaluated at $0.21), while the Ford
Foundation supported the Academy with a grant of 1.93 million
dollar. In addition. however, CARE, UNICEF, the Danish Government,
the Japanese Government, the Peace Corps and other institutions
supported the project by providing experts or equipment. To
count the high salary paid to experts among the project costs
is at least questionable. It is completely impossible to calculate
all the investments made in the Thana by other institutions
following the sug9estion of the Academy at a higher rate than
in other areas. Besides, quite an amount of work was spent
an research and experimentation and cannot be charged to the
scheme itself.
In addition, it should be remembered that, from the very
beginning, the Academy has considered rural development as
a costly undertaking. A minimum investment is necessary to
produce an impact. Projects for an extension of the Comilla
approach to other Thanas are planned with the participation
of the Academy at much lower costs because research and experimentation
require no duplication. If the Rangunia Thana Central Cooperative
Association Scheme near Chittagong is often quoted as a cheaper
alternative, one can rightly say that Rangunia benefited from
the experience and results of Comilla.
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