Shahidul Islam from Rajshahi
Dighipara village is situated around a dighi (pond) in Darshanpara union of Paba upazila of Rajshahi. The human settlement once started around Dighi where water is available for farming and household use. However, in the water-scarce Barind region, human settlements have been built near the river, beside dighi (pond, canal) or natural sources of water. Due to the scarcity of water in the Barind Tract Dighipara has become a village to many of the inhabitants living near and close to it.
Presently about 120 families live in this Dighipara. Joakhali canal flows on one side of the village followed by arable land on its other three sides. Due to the availability of the water all the year round different crops are planted in the cultivable land in twelve months. As it is a low lying area, sometimes the inhabitants do experience water logging and the water accumulates at the bottom of the bill. Farmers can still farm deep water tolerant rice varieties in this water logged areas throughout the year. Besides, they can also cultivate Robi crops such as pulses, wheat, potatoes, onions and garlic during the winter.
Nonetheless, BARCIK started its activities as a facilitating organization in this area in 2019. From the beginning, the organization played a facilitating role in solving various problems and possibilities of the local people. It also helps the communities getting connected with local government and non-government service providers through different dialogues and interaction. This connectivity helps the communities receiving assistance and services from those institution by building good relationship. At the same time, BARCIK motivates and encourages the women to form their own organization and become organized to voice for their rights. The organization plays a helpful role in unlocking the potentiality of women as well.
As result of facilitation of BARCIK the communities are aware of their rights and make sincere efforts to utilize their resources and experience. Thus, they farm various vegetable and other crops on those lands which remained fallow all the year round in the past. It is the women who take the lead role in transforming the lands into cultivable one. Besides, being motivated by BARCIK these women are rearing livestock at home in an integrated manner. They also earn additional cash by doing handicraft and needlework. Due to being able to earn as well as play productive roles in the family and society the status of these women has increased. These women are now perceiving the importance to represent in local administration leading them to select one of the members of their organization to contest in the recently held local election. They appointed Shukila Begum to contest in the election. In order to introduce her among the voters everyone campaigned together. Thus, Shukila Begum of Dighipara was elected in the UP election by a huge margin. As a result, the status of women in this village has increased.
BARCIK community facilitator Mosa: Sultana Khatun who assisted in the village’s activities said, ‘these women were the first who realized the need of to be organized to voice for their rights. Through being organized these women have done some good works that attracted other women of their village and other.’
Shukila Begum, the newly elected member of Darshanpara Union, said, ‘If everyone is united and works hard, we can even achieve the impossible things. I am indebted to the women of my village because they have worked so hard to help me win the UP election. At the same time, I would like to thank all those who voted for me and worked for me.”
Translated by Silvanus Lamin
