A Periodical on Life and Livelihood in Char Year 5 Issue 1 March 2011

Meeting with Parliament Members: Opinions and Recommendations for

the development of Char PeopleZahid Rahman

A major portion of riverine Bangladesh is occupied with char area. Some of these chars are adjacent to main land, while some others have no connection with main land. There are many such types of chars in the north-western part of the country. Particularly in Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, Gaibandha, Rajshahi, Pabna, Chaipainawabganj have a number of such chars. Basically, these chars are remote and detach for communication. In the dry season, there is no way but walking on foot to go to these chars. It must be walked mile after miles in the sunny, hot and sandy ways. It is comparatively easier to communicate by boat in rainy season. By nature, these island chars are very much erosion prone. Most of the people living in these chars are deprived of rights of citizen due to isolation in communication. Despite they are people of within the boarder of Bangladesh; they are living here like emigrants in some extent. The char people have no limits of problems. Most of the char people are extremely poor due to lack of resources and employment opportunities. They hardly get the opportunity of square meal three times in a day. The circumstance is same to all whoever it is children, adults and older people. No one gets a minimum necessary

The Nodi O Jibon project of Concern Worldwide has been closed in March of this year. In 2006, this project started its activities in the 51 island chars in the Northern and Western region of the country with a view to the overall livelihood development of ten thousand extreme poor households. The working areas were twenty four unions of seven upazilas in the districts Pabna, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari. The main objective of the project was to increase resources, assistance for agricultural production and marketing of agricultural goods, employment opportunities through capacity development, intensifying the safety net and government services and rights and involving private sectors and donor agencies in development of char people.

The ten thousand extreme poor households have been found the new motivation of life during the last five years. They have been capable of making resources through agricultural and livestock activities for financial improvement and also been advanced in their outlooks besides having education and health services. They have also become aware about their rights. Many of them have changed their life starting from the zero level. These are not end. They have initiated in small scale and established schools and markets in different char areas. People from the local and national level also have raised their helping hand for them. Considering each part of these, there has been begun a trend of change among the people of island char. There are required additional schemes to ensure the forward movement and sustainability of the changes.

There is always much distress and deprivation of char people in terms of rights and services. By any means they should not be kept aside from the main stream development. They deserve to get all kinds of fundamental rights as a citizen of this state. A unique voice is required to ensure their rights. Let’s be united for their overall development along with food, safety net, health, education and other rights.

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Editorial BoardDr. Shahana RahmanA K M MusaImran AnsariGolam Sarwar TalukdarWaliul Islam

EditorDr. Shahana Rahman

Executive EditorZahid Rahman

Associate EditorMoynul IslamFawzia Feroze

PhotographyUnnayan Shamannay

DesignHiranmay Chanda

GraphicsNirab

ContactShaheen ul alamCoordinatorNodi o JibonUnnayan Shamannay2/E/1-B, Mymensingh RoadShahbag, Dhaka.

PrintingDot Printing & Packaging11 Naya Paltan, Dhaka-1000Phone : 02-9348450

The welcome speech was delivered by Zahid Rahman, Research and Advocacy Coordinator, NoJ project, Unnayan Shamannay. The whole project was described by Golam Sarowar Talukder, Project Coordinator, NOj, Concern Worldwide- Bangladesh; the advocacy part of the project was presented by Moynul Islam, Research Associate, Unnayan Shamannay. The event was moderated by Mr. Shaheen ul Alam, Coordinator, Unnayan Shamannay and chaired by Khondoker Ibrahim Khaled, Emirettus Fellow, Unnayan Shamannay and Chairman, Bangladesh Krishi Bank.In the sharing meeting the Members of Parliament expressed their opinions based on experiences and observations and also provided guidelines and recommendations about the next initiatives to be taken for the overall development of char people. The summary of their speeches are as follows:

(Bramanbariya-5), Md. Shariar Alam (Rajshahi-6), Nilufer Chowdhury Moni (Women seat-38), Biren Sikder (Magura-2), Asma Jerin Jumu (Women seat-14), Shammi Akhter (Women seat-29), Begum Nur Afroz Ali (Women seat-14), Shahida Tareq Dipti (Women seat-29), Advocate Showkat Ara Begum (Women Seat-28) and Dr. Akram Hossain Chowdhury (Nowga-3) were present to express their opinion and suggestions. Mr. Nils Den Tex, ACD, Concern Worldwide, Golam Sarowar Talukder, Project Coordinator, NoJ project, Concern Worldwide, Professor Dr. H K S Arefin, Department of Anthropology, University of Dhaka, Professor Dr. Khondoker Mokaddem Hossain, Depertment of Sociology, University of Dhaka, Md. Abu Taher Khan, Managing Director, Bangladesh NGO Foundation, Kazi Nabiul Huq, Executive Director, Resource Foundation and Khondoker Ibrahim Khaled, Emirettus Fellow, Unnayan Shamannay and Chairman, Bangladesh Krishi Bank were also present.

struggling people of char areas don’t have a piece of own land for homestead. In actual fact that all the char dwellers have gotten their homestead by lease in, who are living in char areas. One kind of invisible and so-called powerful land owners have captured the char lands to themselves by applying different types of techniques. Char people are engulfed with such kind of multifaceted problems. In order to resolve these problems and to create and explore new kind of possibilities in char areas, Unnayan Shamannay organized a sharing meeting with the Parliament Members under the Nodi O Jibon project of Concern Worldwide on 30 March 2011. At that evening, twelve honorable Members of parliament were present at the Bengal Café of Dhanmondi , Dhaka. A few of them, who were present in the meeting, were elected as MPs from the char prone areas. Advocate Fazle Rabbi Mia (Gaibandha-5), M A Mannan (Sunamganj-3), Shah Jikrul Ahmed

food of three times in a day. The amount of food that they get to survive is not enough at all. Here, the education and the health services are also very weak. The char children are deprived of education due to various reasons. There are very few primary and secondary schools in char areas. There is no alternative but observation to realize the fragile infrastructure of school house which is found in a few char area. There is lack of teachers, their continuous absence and other related problems in the primary schools of char areas. Eventually, the primary education system is not strong enough in char. Similarly, the primary health services arrangement have not been established in the char area accordingly. Major portion of the char dwellers are deprived of getting health services. As a result, higher maternal mortality rate is noticed in these areas. Another vital problem faced by the char dwellers is homestead-land. Though they live in char area for whole life they are like the emigrants. The poor, helpless and the

Nils Den Tex (at the middle), Assistant Country Director, Concern Worldwide, is speaking at the meeting

Khondoker Ibrahim Khaled (at the left side), Chairman, Char Alliance, Golam Sarowar Talukder (at the right side)

Coordinator, Concern Worldwide.

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There are a number of unemployed young people in char areas, who must be given the employment opportunities. My recommendation is to establish vocational training centers with the joint support of Unnayan Shamannay and Concern World Wide with this, many young people would be employed in garments and also in abroad. Another concern is the char people live very separately. As a result, these people are not visible as a community. The people, who live in such kind of chars, would be encouraged to live in the same place. There the Govt. services would be given to them more easily. The soil of char is very fertile. Potatoes, nuts, pumpkins are well produced here. Effective

informed that the present Government has continued its various kinds of allowances like; freedom fighter allowance, old age allowance, widow allowance, stipend for school going children etc. A big portion of who are receiving these allowances is from char area. But it is very much difficult for the char people to collect this money by coming from the remote areas. They have to spend both time and money in this process. I think the schedule state banks can come forward in this regard. They can establish temporary booths in the char area. They will deliver the money by coming at char area. The banks can also provide loans including agricultural loans & other facilities /services among the char people through this process. Another major problem in char area is the devalued law & order situation. It is visible almost in all chars. In this aspect, my suggestion is that community police should be made stronger & more action oriented. Another major concern is electricity problem. This service has not yet been ensured in the remote chars. We know that the govt. has established computer based information centers in every union. Also the Govt. has decided to set up labs in primary schools with the support from Bangladesh Computer council (BCC). As there is no electricity in char areas, BCC has decided to set up computers through solar panel.

There are also social and economic causes that should be find out. Another major problem in char area is that the char people don’t have the access to land ownership. A long term plan is badly needed to distribute the khas lands properly among the char people. Along with this, government should distribute the huge absentee lands among the poor char dwellers by acquiring and ensuring control over it. Their security must also be ensured. Hopefully, the elected parliament members would certainly play an effective and positive role in this regard.

Temporary Bank Booths for extremely poor char

people

� Shahriar Alam MP

I am experienced about char people & their livelihood. I know about their struggling. The area, from where I have been elected, there are a few unions in char areas. There are also a numerous voters of those areas. I would like to mention one point ¾ we are all

some different crises in a very different angle. For example, due to infrastructural obstruction, it is very much difficult to ensure government services and fundamental rights of char people. Since, in char areas, things are not sustainable and lasting. For this, the Government should introduce separate policy for them according to thinking by alternative approach. Establishing schools, colleges, hospitals, clinics in char areas based on the present infrastructural policy of the Government will not sustainable in most of the cases. Therefore, beyond the national design of the Government infrastructure, an alternative design especially suitable for char areas should be developed. Here due to not being sustainable of school house along with some other problems, the presence of students in schools in char areas is very low.

The Government should control over the KHAS

lands of char area� Shaheda Tareq Dipti MP

River erosion is one of the main problems of our country. My home district is in Munshiganj. My family also faced the sufferings of river erosion and due to river erosion; a lot of land of our family has gone under water. By the never-ending flow of river, on the one side lands become washed away and on the other hand, new chars have been raised at the heart of the river. But many kinds of notorious conflicting situation happen with the ownership of char land. This is, in fact not a new one. Land grabbers and land terrorists involve in action to grab the khas lands by creating false documents. I think the relevant ministry should increase the attention to it and this should also bring under the control of Government. It would be an opportunity for government to rehabilitate the floating people in Dhaka city to these lands by taking a control over these. In this context, the Govt. can categorize the floating people of Dhaka city according to their home district and would rehabilitate them in the respective char area. In this process, many vulnerable people can have their permanent residence. If it could be done, people would not have inclined to move to town.

A separate policy for char people is to be

initiated� M A Mannan MP

Haors and chars in Bangladesh have almost the same picture in terms of poverty and need. There is no difference in fundamental rights and demands of the dwellers of both areas. The crisis of food, health service and education service are almost the same in the two areas. But, in the char areas, there are

Nodi o Jibon 4

Char area is known as one of the poverty

pockets of Bangladesh. I am also from char

area. I am from Jamalpur district. There are

many chars surrounding this district. Every

year, Dewanganj, Bahadurabad, Islampur

areas face the problem of river erosion. I

have got the opportunity to visualize the

char people. A nice presentation has been

given by Unnayan Shamannay. Many

problems along with food insecurity as

well as possibilities and potentialities of

char people have been discussed there.

Alluvium is one of the potential resources

of char areas. Crops and vegetables have

the highest production here. Specially,

tomatoes, bottle-gourd, pumpkin, heap,

brinjal, grow most. But, unfortunately,

these crops become rotten due to lack of

preservation system. There should be

proper management system to preserve

it. During the month of Chaitra-Boishakh,

there is always a crisis of vegetables in the

village.

Another important issue on char context

is women have an intimate relation with

river. Char women are deprived of many

things. We can arrange trainings for them

and thus they would have a source of

income. The issue is observed also in my

area. Conflicts have been occurred

between the inhabitants of Sherpur and

Jamalpur on the issue of char land

board can be established. Poverty alleviation and well developed plan for char people can also be implemented.

Preservation is necessary for vegetables and crops

produced in char areas� Nilufer Chowdhury Moni MP

facilities which the Govt. has provided for char people must be ensured. There are many problems in char areas. Land issue is a major concern there. Due to the complexity of Alluvian-Delluvian law, the ownership of char land has become a crucial issue. This problem is also in Nobinagar and Raipura upazial of Meghna River. The char people live in one char and they go for voting in another upazila. In my opinion, an individual board can be established. It can be ‘Char Development Board’. Then the Govt. can pay more attention on it. Someone may disagree with it. The total char area of Bangladesh is quite large. The real information on char has not yet found. We have to depend on Union parishad for any kind of information. All kinds of information on char can be accumulated if an individual

implemented. Although in many issues, the MPs do have leadership, but in reality, they don’t possess any kind of domination. As a result, many decisions of the parliament members do not become effective. A suitable law with a combination of leadership and domination has to be created.

Establishment of Char Board is necessary in poverty alleviation of

Char Dwellers� Shah Jikrul Ahmed MP

The Govt. has been continuing the various developing activities along with food and safety net for the poor people of the country. Some activities need to be monitored properly. Monitoring is essentially needed in the distribution of VGD, VGF cards. The parliament members can play a vital role in this context. Proper management should be ensured in distributing VGD, VGF cards. As most of the char people are in a very miserable situation. I have observed their pains and struggles. The services and

Char People are the victims of various

discriminations� Advocate Fazle Rabbi MP

I am also elected from char prone area. There are five unions in char areas among the seventeen unions, in the two upazilas of my constituency. It is situated by the side of Brahmaputra and Jamuna. I am an elected representative of Parliament by the char people. In this regard, I have enough experience about char people and their livelihood. Most of them are extremely poor and also deprived of their rights. It’s our responsibility to provide them those rights and services. For example, the char students have to go sadar upazila to receive their stipend money. But, in this regard, the banks can incorporate by directly delivering the money among the students. The banks can throw a circular. One of the MPs here discussed about the school structure of char areas. So far I know the Dept. of Primary Education and Facilities Dept. have decided to establish transferable school infrastructure. Land issue is one of the major problems in char areas. This problem has been existed for a long period of time. There are some kinds of discrimination here. For example, the char people have to pay an equal amount of money of less produced crops, though they produce huge crops in their land. During my involvement in government, I took a decision in a meeting with land ministry to remove such kind of discrimination. I think all the parliament members should have the same voice in this regard. But the fact is, due to bureaucratic problems, many decisions are not

initiatives should be taken so that the farmers can get the real price and also can get agricultural loans very easily. I would like to convey my votes of thanks to Concern Worldwide for working in Chars of Rajshahi in the near future.

Nodi o Jibon 5

ownership. As a result, the char people are

tremendously suffered. The char people

should get out of rid from this problem.

Some of the parliament members have

opined about the establishment of char

development board. I also support it. The

poor char people would be benefitted if a

char development board can be

established. Lastly, I would request the

donor to take necessary initiatives to

preserve the vegetables and crops

produced by char people and also to

export it in abroad. I hope that Concern

Worldwide would work for the

development of Jamalpur area in the near

future.

Everyone is to be united in poverty mitigation� Mst. Shammi Akhter MP

The meeting which has been arranged

today with a view to develop the

livelihood of char people is really

praiseworthy. The life of char people does

not only mean staying and having food, it

means more than this; their education,

health, their rights as well. We know they

are burdened with various problems. Most

of these people do not have meal not

more than for a day. We all have to be

united; rather imposing faults upon the

poor char people. But the problem is we

cannot become united at this point.

But certainly, we want to participate in

development activities as a representative

of mass people. In this regard, any kind of

co-operation from us would be ensured.

There Should be Proper Management System for

the Permanent Residence of Char People

� Nur Afroze Ali MP

I am mainly from `AILA’ affected area. The

people of my area always have to undergo

through tornado-tidal waves. We have

seen that, the honorable prime minister

how carefully took necessary initiatives in

the Aila and Cidr affected area. I have also

provided relief and technical support

among the affected men and women.

Also, the agricultural minister provided

relief of that the char people’s production

would not be hampered.

One of the problems of char people are-

their temporary housing. People migrate

from one char to another. For this, many

developing activities become hampered.

We should keep this issue in our mind and

would prepare a fruitful design on it.

Permanent housing for the temporary

char people should be ensured. The

initiatives which the donor organization,

Concern world wide have taken, is really

very praiseworthy. I think there would be

more effective results if it is coordinated

with the Govt.

Char people to be made equal with the other section of the society

� Biren Sikder MP

There are no chars from my elected area.

My experience regarding char people is

very low indeed. But from today’s

discussion, I have come to know about the

char people’s social and economic

problems as well as their challenges. The

sufferings which they are facing regarding

education, health and land have been

depicted here. It’s true that char arose

always from main land. Naturally, those

people claim their lands as their own, as

here the social safety net services of char

people have been discussed. I also agree

that we should have the real information

about char people. Otherwise, the social

safety net services would not be done

properly. Char people are the part and

parcel of our society, they are not

separate. We should effort to provide

them support and would also try to place

them at the equal level with the other

section of the society.

Different Income Generating Activities to

be broadened in char area

� Asma Jerin Jumu MP

We have been informed many things

about char and char people from this

meeting. In fact, not only char people, but

all the poor people of our country have

thousands of problems. The present Govt.

has initiated many projects regarding the

char people in resolving their food, health,

education and other problems as well. The

Govt. has given the opportunity among

the poor farmers in village to create a

bank account with an amount of only Tk.

10 and by this way they are importunate

to get bank loan. This kind of activities

should be provided in char area also. There

are also more such kind of activities, that

should also be brought in char areas, so

that the income generating activities of

char people would be broadened.

Establishment of `Char Development

Board’ has been proposed here. I think

Nodi o Jibon 6

There is an endless spirit among them. They have the power to do many things. Here support to them is badly needed. Education service must be provided to the char people. Our father of the nation sheikh Mujibur Rahman also had such kind of ideology. I think, char dwellers should be brought out mainland by providing education facilites.

Nils Den Tex (ACD, Concern Worldwide), thanked to all the parliament members and stated that char issue is, indeed a very critical issue. Many important themes have been pointed out today. We would explore it in the next phase of NoJ, where emphasis would be given on food security.

developing organization.

Widespread mobilization is needed for char

development � Dr. Akram Hossain Chowdhury MP

Char people have many problems. I think there should be a char development board for char people’s overall development which issue has been raised here. The people of hilly area have created made their board through their movement. As a result, they are receiving various services and facilities from the Govt. If Char development board’ can be established, the Govt. would pay more attention on char people’s development. According to the constitution, every citizen has the same equal rights. But the large population in char area is victimized with various discriminations. They are deprived of many rights. I think it is necessary to protect their right through widespread social mobilization among them. They would be informed about their rights; strong leadership would be created among them through the mobilization process. The struggling people, who face challenges, are always able to do better something.

that char people need to have their own

board, and there is an individual board for

the people in Hill Track area. If an

individual char board can be created, char

people’s miseries would be lessened.

Another problem of char people-is that

they are illiterate. The non government

organizations need to be more active in

this regard. If we can make them

educated, the better social norms and

values would be reflected among them.

Even the women in char area also face

social and economic problems. Divorce,

dowry is a common picture in this area. I

guess intensive work on these issues

should be seriously deployed by the

Training on Livestock Services Changed Many Lives in Pabna Char

Mr. Abdul Kuddus with his wife Mrs. Nazma Begum lives in Dhalar Char of Bera Union in Pabna. Around 40 years ago, they had been migrated to Dhalar Char and took shelter in his grandfather’s house with 8 members of their family. Share cropping and day labouring were the only source of income in that time. They live a very miserable life. In this situation, villagers selected Nazma as a beneficiary of local PNGOs-UDPS under NoJ Project considering the extent of their poverty. Nazma first received 2 days training program on livestock management from the project. Then she started poultry & duck rearing at small range.On the other hand, to know the development initiatives for the extreme poor households, Kuddus communicated with project staff & showes interest to do something under the umbrella of NoJ project. Considering the eagerness and endeavours, Kuddus received 7 days basic training on community vaccination on 8 May 2008 by the technical assistance of DLS, Bera, Pabna. Along with the teaching profession in Komorpur Pre-School, he practiced vaccination & general treatment supports within and adjacent villages. But he could not carry out the family needs very well. Kuddus keeps close communication with Technical Officer-Livestock & other field staffs of UDPS and VFA-Dhalarchar for receiving more skills related to livestock’s management. He again received 15 days long residential training on same issue by the assistance of UDPS-PLDP from Livestock’s Training Institute (LTI), Gaibandha on 11-25 October, 2009 and also obtained a certificate & a well decorated kit box. Kuddus says `The training has been changing his life.’ Now he can easily provides vaccination & treatment supports to livestock’s. He takes assistance from Technical Officer of the project & DLS, Bera without any hesitation when faced difficulties. Now, he earns approximately 250-450 Tk per day. He is well known as a vet doctor. Nazma also earns a significant amount from poultry rearing each year.

Source: UDPS, Pabna

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Lessons from Nodi O Jibon Project for Future Endeavour

Golam Sarowar Talukder

The project ‘Nodi O Jibon (River and Life) was dedicated to mobilize resources to the island char areas has supported over 10,000 extreme poor households directly covering 50,000 population in the 51 remote island Chars of 24 Union under 7 Upazila of three northern districts (Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari and Pabna) with funding support from IrishAid (MAPS) and Concern Worldwide for 5 years from April 2006 to March 2011. The project was based on the lessons learned from previous project in Char areas of Dimla Upazila titled ‘Rural Development Project (Living on the Fringe) with the attempt to reach the extreme poor people of island chars and address the MDG (1, 3, and 5) with addressing issues of inadequate earning and employment opportunity, natural disasters, low or no access to government services (health, safety net, education), high level of existence of long term debts and migration through mobilising resources from all corners.

The project embarked 5 implementing partner NGOs (ASOD, BOSS, JSKS, OVA, UDPS) with diverse skills and capacity and 2 strategic partner NGOs for production and market links (JOBS-IRIS) and Advocacy (Unnayan Shamannay and has been able to test the effectiveness of a variety of interventions in improving livelihood security of the extreme poor in char areas. It was found that the project has likely achieved the outcomes it set itself. The areas where greatest effectiveness has been demonstrated are in improving income and food security through support to the introduction of high value crops and livestock; securing development investment in the chars; and to some extent in achieving improved access to services.

The project introduced improved production techniques and cropping pattern in collaboration with government agriculture extension services and research institutes. The value added crops and improved rice varieties were successful and contributed to food security to certain extent. The livestock (cow, goat, sheep) rearing was successful in increasing household income and assets, and generated employment at community level. Regarding market linkage, there was some success in developing producers groups and accessing to local market. However more work is needed in relation to strengthening forward linkage such as access to national

market (linkage with private sectors and lead buyers). Working with local government institutions (Union Parishad) and Upazila ( sub-district) level government departments facilitated better coverage of government services and resources in the area of agriculture, livestock, safety net (VGD, VGF etc) to the extreme char dwellers. Local level advocacy and joint planning with Union Parishad and Upazila was effective in realizing the above achievements. Profiling of char and char livelihoods at national level is a success of project advocacy that allowed allocation in national budget for char people. However, one of the weaknesses identified is the lack of engagement of other important actors working for char development in Char Alliance formed at the national level for advocacy. The project invested significant energy in building capacity and been successful. The specific achievements were:

• Established partner NGOs in the remote island chars with extended services, raising awareness and women empowerment

• Targeting real extreme poor households of three category (welfare, day-labourer and long-term migrant) from the char community

• Over 5,000 women with sustainably increased confidence in community and family matters

• Over 7,500 women with increased knowledge on rights and livelihood issues;

• 4,700 households with increased assets

• Over 5000 households with increased high value agricultural production, kitchen gardening, cattle rearing and linking markets

• 22 CBOs and 485 groups with likely to remain positive contributors in community

Based on the lessons learnt from the previous Nodi O Jibon project, and similar actions of CARE-SHOUHARDO and DFID funded CLP, Concern Worldwide Bangladesh has been developing a new project entitled ‘Moving out of Extreme Poverty in Remote Char island Areas’. The new project will be based on the selected successes issues expanding to Rajshahi and Chapai Nawabganj district in addition to the previous areas covering 15,000 households. The action will sought to achieve the specific objective ‘all members of 15,000 households in north and north-western districts (11 Upazilas of Lalmonirhat, Pabna, Rajshahi and Chapai Nawabganj) chars currently identified as extreme poor achieve food security through diversification of productive and income earning activities’.

The major focuses are to be given on the following: Tightening the focus on the food, income and markets sector, fair access to common property resources and safety nets, generating employment opportunity and job placement, securing social safety nets, agriculture and livestock extension services, increased policy attention with integration of cross cutting issues like partnership, rights and governance, environment, social protection, HIV & AIDs etc.

Nodi o Jibon 8

Steps forward of Pinjira from Jamuna CharPinjira is an inhabitant of Jamuna char of Pabna district. Once upon a time she was defeated to poverty but now her face is showing confidence and feeling of pleasure for endeavor and hard work. Nodi O Jibon project has brought for her the touch of existing change and confidence of her life. Jamuna Shamaj Kallayan Shangstha, a development organization, with the assistance of Concern World Wide executes this project at Jamuna char. Once upon a time Pinjira broke down owing to solely lacking and lacking. She did not find any means on her thought with sick and unemployed husband. But she is capable of getting rid of that sufferings and deprivation. Now she is dreaming for getting ahead in new way. Now Pinjira is about forty years old, living at char Gangajani village of Puran Varenga Union Parishad of Bera Upazila under Pabna district. She is a representation of unfortunate and underprivileged village people of Bangladesh. In the family life her days went from hand to mouth. But all of a sudden her husband became sick. Therefore darkness of insecurity came down to the household. As the need become the daily companion of the household. All the sources of hope and reliance become shut. While Pinjira was defeated for fighting with such insecurity of life, the Nodi O Jibon project of Concern World Wide was standing by her with helping hand. With the help of the project, Pinjira received training on rearing cow and goat, farming vegetables, and disasters management and preparedness. Her income sources were opened by this route. Development organization Jamuna Shamaj Kallayan Shangstha assisted three thousands taka to increase the height of her homestead land under Nodi O Jibon Project. She increased the height of her homestead land by own effort and used this money to purchase three goats. She

was continuing to rear of these three goats. She had gotten ten goats from three. She sold seven of them at Tk. 19000 and purchased a bullock with the money. She sold the bullock at Tk. 40000 after had reared it with care. By this way Pinjira increases her resources step by step. She retrieves her confidence level. Now she is dreaming higher bypassing the miseries and deprivations. Noe Pinjira Khatun is happy along with her husband and family. Her expression, “I am happy that flood water does not submerge my homestead. I produce different types of vegetables at homestead garden. I usually get eight to ten thousands taka per year by selling vegetables. I also get money by rearing poultry that has assisted to ensure solvency of my family.” Now Pinjira is dreaming for her children. She want that her children will be highly educated. Pinjira told, “Once I was helpless. I had been puzzled due to poverty. But development organization Jamuna Shamaj Kallayan Shangstha has taught me much. I have been skilled through the organization. I have learnt to earn through it. The Nodi O Jibon project has taught me to step forward.

Source: Jamuna Shamaj Kallayan Shangstha, Bera, Pabna

Expanding promising agricultural activities, asset transfer (livestock and seeds) to cover the majority or all of group members. Concentrating on activities that were successful in the previous experience, rather than on research.

Developing community level economic activities which will create employment for the poor. This needs to be done through rigorous local-level economic analysis with the following forms:

• Agricultural activities undertaken individually but on a scale which enables a community to act jointly to overcome local storage, transport and marketing barriers

• Small private enterprises (such as agri-processing, cow fattening, goat/sheep farming, dairy)based in char areas, managed privately, usually by others than the extreme poor, but employing significant numbers of the extreme poor

• Larger enterprises on adjacent mainland areas that create employment opportunity

• Working with national level private sector for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding, Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and with ready-made garments, foot wear and other sector for job placement.

Continue to work through groups and apex body, facilitate capacity building to work more independently with union parishads to improve the targeting of social safety-nets for the extreme poor.

Strategic partner JOBS will support market survey and local economic analysis; and implementation of community-level economic activities and marketing linkages with securing technical advice from the government research and extension services before commencing agriculture and livestock activities,

Specific emphasise will be given engage advocacy partner (US), revive the Char Alliance with clearer role which enable issues raised by local Char Alliances to inform debate at the national level for influencing policy, include new members from the development sector (CLP, BRAC, RDRS, CARE), senior government personnel in a private capacity, representatives of the commercial sector with interests or potential interests in the char areas.

Golam Sarowar Talukder: Coordinator, Concern wroldwide

Nodi o Jibon 9

Workshop on Pro-Char Reporting in Pabna and Lalmonirhat

To make the local journalists more char oriented, a workshop on pro-char reporting was held in Pabna Press Club Auditorium and at the Motiar Memorial Auditorium of OVA office, Lalmonirhat on 25th January and 28th February 2011 respectively. The program has been organized by Unnayan Shamannay, under the project ‘Nodi O Jibon’, supported by Concern Worldwide. Mr. Rumi Khandakar, Chairman of Pabna Press Club was the chair of the workshop in Pabna. At the workshop, there were speeches delivered by Mr. Utpal Mirza, secretary of Pabna press club, Mr. Jaglul Rajib, project officer, NoJ, CWW-Bangladesh, Mr. Monjur Hossain Mamun, Executive Director,

BOSS. On the other hand, the workshop which was held in Lalmonirhat, Mr. Shaheen ul Alam, Project Coordinator of Unnayan Shamannay delivered his welcome speech and also stated about the objective of the training workshop. On behalf of Concern Worldwide, Project Officer Shahjahan Shiraj gave his speech. Both the workshops were moderated by Mr. Zahid Rahman, Research and Advocacy Coordinator of Nodi O Jibon project, Unnayan Shamannay. Syed Ishtiak Reza was the resource person of these workshops.

The vulnerabilities of char life, struggles and possibilities of char people, Govt. and non-Govt. services, agriculture, communication and many other issues of char area have been discussed by journalist Syed Ishtiak Reza with the participants at the training workshop. The participants also explored many different issues to make reports on char life. Reports on sensitive issues by district representatives are not appreciated up to the mark, the journalists stated. They also expressed that their salary and other facilities are also very poor. Ishtiak Reza emphasized on the quality and intensity of the report and also on the ethics of the journalists. He also stated

that who edits the report or editor; all are committed to publish a quality report. A quality and sensitive report would certainly be published if there is no major kind of problem. At the opening floor, the local journalists commented that the internal problems of char people could be explored more intensively at the national level if issue based training and regular field visits can be arranged for them. They proposed to continue this kind of program in the future also.

Tulu Begum – A self-confident PersonalityTulu Begum- An inhabitant of Vabanipur Char at Hemayetpur Union in Pabna Sadar Upazilla. Though she was supposed to defeat by poverty for her whole life, she is now in a better position than previous time. At first, this betterment was started with the help of Concern worldwide project. Tulu Begum took some capital from this project and then she is now able to make her own capital. At first, Tulu Begum lent 21000 taka from Nodi O Jibon Project and bought a cow. Then she reared this cow for more than 11 months and sold this cow in Tk 46000. She gave 21000 Tk back to Nodi o Jibon project for her loan and her net profit was 25000 Taka. She bought a new cow with her own taka, which is her own asset. Tulu Begum has 4 sons and total no. of her family members are 6. She lives in her parents’ house as she has not her own home. Her husband is a seasonal laborer. He works in a brick field. His monthly average income is 3 to 4 thousands taka only. With this poor income, they tried hard to maintain their family. Whenever local development organization BOSS started their work to develop the status of char people in association with Nodi O Jibon project, Tulu Begum incorporated herself as a member of this program. From the very beginning, she was very active in her works. She took training on Cow-rearing. Then, a cow was given to him from JOBS under the Beef-fattening project. She maintained all rules and regulations about Cow-rearing, which she learnt from the training and finally she returned 22900 taka to Nodi O Jibon project excluding her profit. Now Tulu Begum is very confident and she is trying to overcome her poverty level. The reason behind her confidence is that, she achieved a little asset with the help of Nodi O Jibon project within a very short time. She commented that, `I have nothing in previous day. But, now I have a cow of my own. Nodi O Jibon Project helps me a lot to earn this asset.’

Representatives of Concern Worldwide and Unnayan Shamannay andJournalist Syed Ishtiaque Reza at the workshop in Lalmonirhat.

Representatives of Concern Worldwide and Unnayan Shamannay andJournalist Syed Ishtiaque Reza at the workshop in Pabna.

Nodi o Jibon 10

Nodi O Jibon HatThere are 1000-1200 households living in Pashim Holdibari Char but there was no hat in this char before 2008. with the support of ASOD under NoJ Project, a hat was established named Nodi O Jibon in Pashim Holdibari Char in 2008. Local and national media including Bangla Vission TV Channel covered the news in this local market. The Char community donated 30 decimal lands for this local market. The CARE under its SHOUHARDO program also allocated tk.11 lakh for

ground rising and construction purposes. Now, the bazaar and hat are running smoothly and regularly. Presently, 11 solar lamps set up in 11 shops and establish a pharmacy to serve necessary treatment and medicines. 6 beneficiaries of NoJ Project established permanent shop in the market. The community people claimed that they sell product at a rational price as it save their transport cost and time. They also purchase their necessary goods from this market.

Sheep rearing made Amena self dependent Amena Begum is the inhabitant of Poschim Holdibari Char of Patika Para Union at Hatibandha Upazila of Lalmonirhat district. Her poor father arranged her marriage at the age of 13 with Mozammel at the same village. At the early stage, her husband’s financial condition was good but after some years they became destitute due to river erosion. By this time, she gave birth to her third child. It became quite impossible to bear the cost of five family members for them. But Amena never lost her confidence, rather she became determined to move forward. With the support of ASOD (Assistance for social organization and development), Amena had been involved with Nodi O Jibon project in 2006 and also became a member of ‘Meghna Mohila Dol’.

With the help of ASOD and NoJ Project, she received two days long training on goat and sheep rearing. After receiving training she decided to rear the sheep at her home. Her husband bought 5 sheep to Tk. 7000 from local market on May 2008 by the financial support from JOBS-IRIS. Now they have more than 29 sheep. Amena sold 20 sheep at the rate of tk1500 & earned tk. 31500. She spent some money for treatment purposes, loan instalment and mortgaged 20 decimal lands. She also spent some money for her children’s educational expenses. She also built 2 tin shed rooms by the money she has earned from sheep rearing. Amena is no longer poor now. Her struggle has created a great example.

There were no primary and high schools in Purbo Dauabari char, Hatibandha, Lalmonirhat. The char children went to the mainland for primary education and high school also crossing the Tista river. Although, they could attend school irregularly during dry season but it was not possible to reach schools away from the char land at least 3 months during rainy season. For this reason the student’s dropout rate remains very high.The member of `Purbo Dauabari Jono Unnayan Sangstha’, a CBO of Purbo Dauabari established Purbo Dauabari Modhaya Para Registered Primary School in 2009. Now, 179 students are reading in this school. Last year, 6 students appeared in the Primary School Certificate examination and out of them 2 students came out successfully and stood 10th and 11th position at the examination under Hatibandha Upazila. The school has also been approved by the Director General, Primary and Mass Education, Dhaka. For this approval, CBO members were very happy and with this inspiration, they establish a Junior High School named `Tista Par Ideal Junior High School’ at the same premises of the primary school with the collaboration of Local Char Alliance (LCA) members and Upazila Parishad. At present 62 students are admitted in class six to eight in this school. Upazilla Vice-Chairman, DPO and LCA members were visited the school. Moreover, recently, 1 lakh 40 thousand taka has been allotted for infrastructural development of this school by the special effort of Motahar Hossain MP, State Minister, Ministry of Primary and Mass Education (MoPME). On the other hand, recently, UNDP has been allotted 1 lakh 10 thousand taka by the support of Upazila Parishad to improve the sanitation in these char areas. Source: ASOD, Lalmonirhat

Established School in Purbo Dauabari Char

Nodi o Jibon 11

Livelihood Development of Char People: Necessity of National Budget Allocation and Implementation

Moynul Islam

The smallest SARRC member country of south Asia, Maldives has graduated from LDC status at the beginning of this year. Very few years ago Bangladesh and Maldives were the same categories in LDC status. It is not time to tell by assumption about how many years will need graduate from LDC status of Bangladesh. Both of the countries have natural similarities and dissimilarities. The foremost hindrance for Bangladesh is the huge number of population and its’ growth that has not for Maldives. The key challenge for the development of Bangladesh is to build up the huge number of population as human resources in lieu of population problems. Government, non-government’s development organizations, international development partner institutions along with various development programs have been playing role to cope with this challenge. But in this regard the key role must be played by the government. Bangladesh is also committed to achieve Millennium Development Goals within the year 2015. To reach to these goals the prime focus must be turned to the development of the people living in the fringe. The people living in the char area are considered as one of the major marginal groups in Bangladesh. People are living in the char area by tackling numerous types of difficulties. Char people are the first victim of climate induced natural calamities. These people are dangerously affected and detrimental by all kind of natural disasters like; flood, river erosion, cyclone, windy and extreme cold weather. There is observing an alarming level of food insecurity among this group of people. These sufferings arrive at extreme level for the period of natural catastrophes. Moreover, minimum medical services do not go to char people due to remoteness. Even it is not possible for extreme poor and sick people from char area to get access of medical services on an average of 18 kilometers far (Nodi o Jibon Policy Paper-2009,US). There are no access of lowest possible necessary services to the pregnant women and new born babies in char area. There are fragile education system in everywhere of char area due to different types of problems along with need of educational institutions and suitable structure educational institutions, absence of teachers, and involvement of children in seasonal activities. Char land is the enormously suitable for comprehensive agricultural production. But the char people, who produce crops from this land, are not owners of the land. The land owners are absent from char. They are the powerful one or group, who do not live in the char area but get benefit from here. The small share croppers of char area cultivate this land by taking lease in exchange of three to five thousand taka per year for a bigha (33 decimals). Majority of the farmers of char area become unemployed or migrant workers as a result of their incapability of bearing such expenditure. They are

compelled to go to city for different types of odd jobs. There are varieties of opportunities (like; agricultural land with silt, wide range of grass land for cow rearing, huge manpower) in the char area along with different types of problems, that can play role in development through proper management. But any kind of massive initiatives are not noticed for the development of char people from the till date. Even the benefits from development program of government and non-government do not reach to char people. Existing benefits are very nominal in comparable against necessity. From the government side separate and special allocation for the development of char area in the proposed national budget was declared for the first time in fiscal year 2009-10. The amount of that

proposed allocation was Tk. 181 cores and 75 lacs. For the next year (fiscal year 2010-11), this proposed allocation was declared in Tk. 3 thousand 546 cores 68 lacs. Honorable finance minister addressed in the Articles No- 200 under the section of poverty reduction and social safety net of the chapter-three of his budget speech, “At the same time, under ADP in the next fiscal, I propose to allocate Tk. 140 crore for Rural Roads Maintenance Project creating employment for the poor laborers, Tk. 77.69 crore for protection of Government assets and Rural Employment Project, Tk. 68.45 crore for creating employment for the

hardcore poor of Monga areas and Tk. 3,546.68 crore for raising the living standard together with employment of the people living in Char areas and other poverty reduction projects.” ( Buget speech 2010-11)One kind of expectation with gratefulness was showed among the char people after the declaration of budget allocation in the first year. They expressed that the light of hope was found to them through this initiative of government despite it was latter of a long time. In the second year the proposed budget allocation was declared for the development of char people in a very high amount unexpectedly. Therefore, the expectations of char people increase several times more than existing. But the reality is showing different picture. The time is coming for declaration of another national budget but any kind of specific service did not reach to the char people from the proposed national budget allocation of last two years. It is not possible to know any kind of information on allocation and expenditure due to lack of item specific allocation. Honorable finance minister also stated in the Articles No- 131 of his budget speech to establish learning centre for children in the remote area like; char, haor, tea garden. But the reflection of such kind of program has not been noticed in the char area yet. Therefore it is necessary to ensure the involvement of char people in the mainstreaming development through make sure of specific budget allocation against specific needs of char area to achieve millennium development goals

Publications

Published by Unnayan Shamannay with support from Concern Worldwide Bangladesh

ShahanaActing Chairperson

www. shamunnaybd.org

Concern Worldwide: who we are

Concern began in Dublin, Ireland, from a small group of people joining together in response to the Biafra famine in Nigeria in 1968. From these small roots we have grown – today we are engaged in a huge range of aid, relief and development work, with our headquarters in Ireland, UK and USA. We run hundreds of projects in nearly 30 of the world’s poorest countries benefiting thousands of communities. Now, we are a well-recognised, international, non-governmental organisation, devoted to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries.

Concern Worldwide in Bangladesh

Concern first worked in Bangladesh in response to the devastating cyclone in November 1970 in what was then known as East Pakistan. Later, after Bangladesh was declared an independent state, Concern started by extending support mainly to the stranded Bihari communities in Dhaka, Saidpur, Khulna and Chittagong urban areas. Gradually it expanded its programme to other localities and its initial work approach was relief oriented, however, it moved towards development and capacity building approach in the 1980’s. In late nineties, it decided to move towards partnership approach from direct implementation.

Current programmes in Health and Nutrition, Education, Disaster Mitigation, and Livelihood Security focus on poverty reduction and on building the capacity of local communities, government organisations and non-governmental partners, to increase the sustainability of programme objectives and to reach more people.

Concern’s Livelihood Security Programme initiated the Nodi o Jibon project based on its experience of working in the chars since 1998. The Nodi o Jibon project (2006-2011), initiated by CWW Bangladesh in partnership with six implementing partners and two technical partners, focuses on the northern island chars and aims to increase and improve the allocation of services and resources to the extreme poor island chars communities thereby expanding their livelihood options.

Country DirectorA K M Musa

Country OfficeHouse # 15 S W (D), Road-7, Gulshan-1Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh

Tel: 880-2-8811469Fax: 880-2-8817517Email: bangladesh.info@concern.net