http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18080116-23109,00.html

BEGGARS in impoverished Bangladesh will receive interest-free loans from US banking giant Citigroup to help them become self-employed, the bank said in a statement yesterday.

The bank has donated $US250,000 ($337,336) to expand a four-year-old project run by micro-finance pioneer Grameen Bank.

Grameen is credited with developing a unique micro-credit system that has been used by some five million people in Bangladesh and replicated worldwide over the last 30 years.

"Project Dignity aims to improve living standards for more than 2500 beggars across the country and help them to find ways to lift themselves out of poverty," the US financial giant said in the statement.

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