Economic Reporter :
Once Rubina had suffered a lot after her RMG worker husband lost his job from a factory two years ago. Her husband Mujibul Howlader hailing from Barishal looked for a new job but failed to manage it, putting his four-member family in untold sufferings.
“As my husband failed to manage a work, he started working as a day-labourer. But, the amount of money he earned was not enough to bear our family expenses. At that time, we lived from hand-to-mouth. No work, no food,” said Rubina who is living in Korail slum in the capital.
Recalling the days when they were in plight, she said they were unable to send their children to school as they did not have enough money to bear their educational expenses.
“So, I was thinking how I can earn money and contribute to my family to get rid of the vicious circle of poverty. One day, with the help of local women community leaders, I received a small business grant of Taka 7,000 from an urban development project,” said Rubina, mother of two children.
“I bought a sewing machine with the grant money and started sewing clothes at my home. Since then, I have been earning Taka 400 per day on average. As I can contribute to my family, now there is no hardship in my family,” she added.
Rubina said her only daughter Mim is now studying in class-III at Mohakhali Model School. “Now I spend about Taka 1,600 per month, on average, for my daughter as tuition and coaching fees,” she added.
Another grant receiver, Shahnoor Akhter, received a small grant of Taka 7,000 from the project last year and started a tailoring business in Korail slum after buying a sewing machine with the grant money.
“I’ve been earning Taka 500-600 profit per day from my business and spending the money for my family. As my day labourer husband does not get work every day, I have taken the responsibility of my family. And it is not a problem for me now since I earn,” she said.
Once Rubina had suffered a lot after her RMG worker husband lost his job from a factory two years ago. Her husband Mujibul Howlader hailing from Barishal looked for a new job but failed to manage it, putting his four-member family in untold sufferings.
“As my husband failed to manage a work, he started working as a day-labourer. But, the amount of money he earned was not enough to bear our family expenses. At that time, we lived from hand-to-mouth. No work, no food,” said Rubina who is living in Korail slum in the capital.
Recalling the days when they were in plight, she said they were unable to send their children to school as they did not have enough money to bear their educational expenses.
“So, I was thinking how I can earn money and contribute to my family to get rid of the vicious circle of poverty. One day, with the help of local women community leaders, I received a small business grant of Taka 7,000 from an urban development project,” said Rubina, mother of two children.
“I bought a sewing machine with the grant money and started sewing clothes at my home. Since then, I have been earning Taka 400 per day on average. As I can contribute to my family, now there is no hardship in my family,” she added.
Rubina said her only daughter Mim is now studying in class-III at Mohakhali Model School. “Now I spend about Taka 1,600 per month, on average, for my daughter as tuition and coaching fees,” she added.
Another grant receiver, Shahnoor Akhter, received a small grant of Taka 7,000 from the project last year and started a tailoring business in Korail slum after buying a sewing machine with the grant money.
“I’ve been earning Taka 500-600 profit per day from my business and spending the money for my family. As my day labourer husband does not get work every day, I have taken the responsibility of my family. And it is not a problem for me now since I earn,” she said.
