Around 2135 extreme poor women afoot to self-reliance in Badalgachhi

RAJSHAHI, July 15 (BSS)- Around 2135 hardcore-poor womenfolk are going to become self-reliance through the local resource mobilization with cash and kinds support from BRAC in Badalgachhi upazila of Naogaon district.

After a baseline survey, the BRAC picked them up under its
special programme titled "Challenging the Frontiers of Poverty
Reduction- Specially Targeting the Ultra Poor".

At one stage, the beneficiaries thought that their poverty
and hunger was the curse of fate and their hardcore poverty,
unconsciousness and ignorance crippled them mentally and
physically.

Last of all, the helpless families are on the door to attain
economic emancipation and social security by adopting various
rural level money-making activities like cow, goat, sheep and
poultry birds rearing, small business and homestead gardening.

Moreover, some of those have started enjoying the benefits of
self-reliance after freeing themselves from the vicious cycle of
poverty and hopeless condition.

"Now, I'm rearing three cows and six goats along with some
other poultry birds. I'm happy with growth rate of the domestic
animals," said Begum, 40, wife of late Mofiz Uddin, while talking
to some of the visiting journalists in her mud- house at Sohasho
village on Thursday last.

She told the newsmen that she had got cow, goat, sheep and
poultry birds besides receiving necessary training and guidelines
on how to rear those and homestead gardening and operating small
business from the local BRAC office since 2002 last.

Housewife Khairun Nessa, 40, a beneficiary of the program, is
a mother of three two daughters and a son. Her husband is a day-
laborer.

She became a member of the program around five years back.
After completing her training successfully, she started cow and
goat farming at her house. Now, she earns extra money.

Now, she becomes an owner of three cattle and six goats. Her
social dignity has been enhanced as she rotates her family into
happy and sends her children to school.

"We eat proteins food, fresh vegetables, drink safe water,
use sanitary latrine and maintain hygienic life," housewife
Khairun said adding that her two children are going to school
now.

Side by side with the male, she added that the females can do
everything with skill and competence if there is a will and
mental strength.

Similarly, Rabeya Khatun, 35, wife of Belal Hossain, Ashiya
Begum, 55, wife of Abul Kalam Azad, Salma Begum, 40, wife of
Rejaul Karim and Asma Khatun, 28, wife of Abdul Jalil expressed
their satisfaction over their income-generation activities.

They uttered that the rural poverty and helpless condition
could be curtailed significantly if the extreme poor and other
vulnerable communities are brought under need-oriented support
services effectively.

During the visit this reporter found that the uplift
condition are seen contributing themselves abstaining from
various social curses like child marriage and early pregnancy,
dowry, gender discrimination and violence against women.

Earlier, in a press-briefing at Badalgachhi BRAC office,
Senior Area Manager Ataie Rabbi informed that the beneficiaries
were given 2202 cows, 2342 goats, 625 sheep and 9,000 poultry
birds valued Taka 2.10 crore free of cost for uplifting their
livelihood condition.

Besides, he said the beneficiaries were imparted training on
rearing and farming of the disbursed animals.

Side by side with the income-generation activities, each of
the beneficiaries was given Taka 175 as allowance and 500 grams
of pulse per week so that they could intake nutritious meal.

In addition, they were provided 539 latrine sets and 33
tubewells free of cost for ensuring safe drinking water and
sanitation and hygiene coupled with extending healthcare support
to 7509 patients including 373 serious ones.

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