BSS, Dhaka :
Hundreds of distressed women, mainly divorced and widowed, of the district have proved that skills training, small fund and most importantly access to market are sufficient to become self-reliant.
More than 700 distressed women of different villages under Ulipur upazila became economically empowered by making different kinds of diverse jute products like felts, bags, mat, hand fan, pillow cover, show pieces and ornaments.
A non-government women development organization of the district named ‘Associate for Reviver Initiatives’ popularly known as ‘Naree’ (women) had played the facilitator’s role behind their success as it took the initiative of creating employments for jobless distressed women in 2014.
“The most important thing is to ensure market access of the products. In most cases, our rural women fail to earn money due to lack of training and inability to select a place to market their products,” said Farida Yesmin a member of Naree, who played a key role for the success of the women.
“We make sure that women get appropriate market access of their products. And we succeeded in doing so …. Right now, some of their products are being exported abroad,” said Farida.
Firstly, she said Naree had identified a group of distressed women mainly widows and divorcees at Ramnadash Dhonipara beside Ulipur-Chilmari highway and conducted skills training for them.
After getting trained, the women received small fund from Naree for producing diverse jute products, she said.
“We installed 300 tants for the trained women for making various products from jute and we formed a market chain to sell the products,” she said.
Recounting her journey as a member of Naree, Farida said, “At first we opened a showroom for displaying the products in the district. After that we started to participate in different fairs across the country.”
The diverse jute products, made by these poor women drew buyers’ attention at different fairs mainly for their attractive design and good quality. “Now products of some women are being exported abroad,” Farida said.
However, she said they had faced tough time to get financial support from the banks as the lending bodies still hesitate to disburse loan to women.
“I am a single mother. My bad days started when my husband left me and my son, after four years of our marriage. At that time I didn’t know any other work apart from household chore. I had no idea how I would survive in this harsh world,” said Shefaly Akhtera recalling her past experiences.
She described in a dismal voice how she was neglected by her family members and the society, after being abandoned by her husband. “My husband was gone, my son’s father was gone, my only source of income was gone, the only person left to fix all of these was me,” she said.
As days passed by, the gloomy fog dissipated and slowly gave way to sunny days as ‘Naree’ stood beside her, provided her training and fund for becoming self-reliant.
“I am fine right now as I am earning Taka 250 to 300 per day by making various jute products … I have recently enrolled my six-year-old son to school …. I hope that he will become established and lead a dignified life one day,” said Shefaly, one of those 700 self-reliant women said, with tears of satisfaction in her eyes.
President of Bangladesh Mohila parishad of Kurigram Rawshan Ara Chowdhury thanked the present government for taken various initiatives to ensure women empowerment.
Hundreds of distressed women, mainly divorced and widowed, of the district have proved that skills training, small fund and most importantly access to market are sufficient to become self-reliant.
More than 700 distressed women of different villages under Ulipur upazila became economically empowered by making different kinds of diverse jute products like felts, bags, mat, hand fan, pillow cover, show pieces and ornaments.
A non-government women development organization of the district named ‘Associate for Reviver Initiatives’ popularly known as ‘Naree’ (women) had played the facilitator’s role behind their success as it took the initiative of creating employments for jobless distressed women in 2014.
“The most important thing is to ensure market access of the products. In most cases, our rural women fail to earn money due to lack of training and inability to select a place to market their products,” said Farida Yesmin a member of Naree, who played a key role for the success of the women.
“We make sure that women get appropriate market access of their products. And we succeeded in doing so …. Right now, some of their products are being exported abroad,” said Farida.
Firstly, she said Naree had identified a group of distressed women mainly widows and divorcees at Ramnadash Dhonipara beside Ulipur-Chilmari highway and conducted skills training for them.
After getting trained, the women received small fund from Naree for producing diverse jute products, she said.
“We installed 300 tants for the trained women for making various products from jute and we formed a market chain to sell the products,” she said.
Recounting her journey as a member of Naree, Farida said, “At first we opened a showroom for displaying the products in the district. After that we started to participate in different fairs across the country.”
The diverse jute products, made by these poor women drew buyers’ attention at different fairs mainly for their attractive design and good quality. “Now products of some women are being exported abroad,” Farida said.
However, she said they had faced tough time to get financial support from the banks as the lending bodies still hesitate to disburse loan to women.
“I am a single mother. My bad days started when my husband left me and my son, after four years of our marriage. At that time I didn’t know any other work apart from household chore. I had no idea how I would survive in this harsh world,” said Shefaly Akhtera recalling her past experiences.
She described in a dismal voice how she was neglected by her family members and the society, after being abandoned by her husband. “My husband was gone, my son’s father was gone, my only source of income was gone, the only person left to fix all of these was me,” she said.
As days passed by, the gloomy fog dissipated and slowly gave way to sunny days as ‘Naree’ stood beside her, provided her training and fund for becoming self-reliant.
“I am fine right now as I am earning Taka 250 to 300 per day by making various jute products … I have recently enrolled my six-year-old son to school …. I hope that he will become established and lead a dignified life one day,” said Shefaly, one of those 700 self-reliant women said, with tears of satisfaction in her eyes.
President of Bangladesh Mohila parishad of Kurigram Rawshan Ara Chowdhury thanked the present government for taken various initiatives to ensure women empowerment.
