The Role of NGOs in Women Empowerment In Bangladesh

The Role of NGOs in Women Empowerment In Bangladesh :Case Study of Kushtia District

Md Mahabub Ullah Khan

BSS Honurs in Politics and Public Administration
Mss in Public Administration
Master of Development Studies (MDS)


In fact, Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries in the world, where most of the people (about 80%) live in the villages and half of them are women. About half of the rural people live below poverty line and their average per capita income is very low (US $365). Rural people are in lack of education and employment opportunities are reflected the low productivity, high population pressure, unemployment problem etc. And still today communication and infrastructure facilities are quite far from their reach. Without development of the remote areas no countrywide progress is possible and breaking up the curse of ‘vicious circle of property’. So the question of “Women Empowerment” comes. BRAC contributes its core efforts for poverty alleviation of the rural poor in the form productive investment and mobilization of resources by formulating capital.
 The study based on theoretical aspects of BRAC micro credit Program and relevant data which has collected from various remote areas and BRAC office. This report express about BRAC and role of micro-credit Program for proverty alleviation and self-employment in Bangladesh. The study also suggests some necessary steps should take to remove the existing problems. The data (primary and secondary) has collected from 10-08-2010 to 19-12-2010.






ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First of all, I remember the almighty Allah and my parents.

I would like to place on record the valuable help, which I have received from different quarters in the completion of the present study. First and foremost I owe an obvious large debt of gratitude to my supervisor Mr. Mohammad Selim, Associate Professor Department of Politics and Public Administration, Islamic University Kushtia for the readiness with which he has helped me in preparing this internship report. My sincere thanks should go to him.

To prepare this report, I have got helps and assistance from different persons; particularly I am grateful to Kushtia area manager and other officials for their constructive criticisms and suggestions for substantive revision, which contributed to the quality of the internship report.

At last acknowledge my friend and well wishes for their benevolent collaboration advice. Thanks a lot to all concerned.




Md Mahabub Ullah Khan


DECLARATION



I declare that the Research Report on “Role of NGOs in Women Empowerment in Bangladesh” submitted to Masters of Development Studies (Evening program). Embodies the results of my own research works, pursued under the supervision of Mr. Mohammad Selim, Associate Professor Department of Politics and Public Administration, Islamic University Kushtia.

I further affirm that the work reported in this report is original and no part or whole of this report has been submitted to, in any form, any other University or Institution for any degree or any other purpose.




(Md Mahabub Ullah Khan )
Date:  03 September 2011     Masters of  Development Studies
Islamic University, Kushtia







CONTENTS
     
Abstract       i
Certificate       ii
Acknowledge      iii
Declaration       iv
List of Contents             v
CHAPTER-1: INTRODUCTION     1 - 23
  1.1 Statement of the problem    3
  1.2 Rationale of the study     4
  1.3 Objectives of the study     4
1.4 Scope of the study     5
1.5 Review of the related literature   6
1.6 Methodology of the study    9
1.7 Limitation of the study     10
1.8 Definition of Concept & Terms used   11
CHAPTER-2:  BRAC AN OVERVIEW    8-25    2.1 Background, Growth and development of BRAC      24
2.2 Objectives of BRAC       28
2.3 BRAC at a Glance (As on December 31, 2003)         29
2.4 BRAC’s Mission       37
  2.5 Goal of BRAC        37
2.6 BRAC Organo-Gram       38
2.7 Programrs of BRAC (The BRAC Tree)    39
2.8Rural Development Program (RDP)    40
2.8.1 Institution Building and Social Mobilization   40
            2.8.2 Micro Enterprise lending and Assistance     41
            2.8.3 BRAC’s saving and Credit Program    42
  2.8.3(a) Poultry Livestock       43
  2.8.3(b) Fisheries        43
  2.8.3(c) Agriculture        44
  2.8.3(d) Vegetable Export Program     45
  2.8.3(e) Social forestry       45
  2.8.3(f) Sericulture        46
  2.8.4 Income Generation for Vulnerable Group
Development (IGVGD)      46
2.8.5 Rural Enterprise Project (REP)     47
  2.8.6 Relief and Rehabitation Program              48
            2.8.7 Education Program                48    
  2.8.7(a)  Education Support Program (ESP)                49
  2.8.7(b)  Continuing Education Program    49
       2.8.7(c) Union Library of Gonokendra Pathagar              50
  2.8.7(d)  Reading centre or Kishori Pathagar    50
            2.8.8 Health Program         50
  2.8.8(a) Women’s Health and Development Program 51
  2.8.8(b)  New Health Inisiatives      52
  2.8.8(c) Nutrition Facilitation Program    52
  2.8.8(d) Shushasto (BRAC Health Centre)    54
CHAPTER-3:  ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS                         55-75
  3.1 The Socio-economic Status of the Respondents         55
  3.1.1 Age wise distribution of respondents    55
  3.1.2 Inspiration to be a member of BRAC    56
  3.1.3 Experience in regarding of BRAC loan taking   57
  3.1.4 Educational background of BRAC loaners    57
  3.1.5 Marital status of BRAC loaners     58
  3.1.6 Size of the Family of the Respondents    59
  3.2 Impact of BRAC Finance      60
3.2.1 Income earner before and after joining BRAC   60
  3.2.2 Educational Level        61
  3.2.3 Nature of the Dwelling House     62
  3.2.4 Nature of the Latrine       63
3.2.5 Sources of drinking water       64
  3.2.6 Other Assets          65
3.2.7 Family educational change      66
3.2.8 Income Level        67
3.2.9 Size of capital of the loan     69
3.2.10 Impact at a glance        70
       3.3 Sector wise investment of BRAC loans     71
3.3.1 Processing and manufacturing includes         71
3.3.2 Agriculture and forestry includes      71
3.3.3 Livestock and fisheries       72
3.3.4 Service includes        73
3.3.5 Trading includes        73
3.3.6 Peddling includes       74
3.3.7 Shop keeping includes       74
3.3.8 Non-investment       74
CHAPTER-4:  PROBLEMS OF BRAC FINANCE   76-42              4.1 Problems Faced by the Respondents     77
  4.1.1 Major Problems Faced by the Respondents   77
  4.2 Problems faced By the BRAC Officials    79
CHAPTER-5:  SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS  81-86
  5.1 Summary of the study       81
  5.2 Recommendations       83
Bibliography        87
APPENDIX          90



CHAPTER-1
INTRODUCTION

Bangladesh is rich in natural resources.  In spite of that it is poor and under developed country. It is because of the fact that its natural resources are not being properly exploited due to lack of technical knowledge and skilled labor because of the scarcity of capital resources.
The last two decades number of NGOs has been dramatically increased and their voluntary development services in many countries of the world have also increased to alleviate poverty.
Most non governmental organizations engage in the promotion of the development initiatives at the grass-roots level. BRAC is one of them they work directly with the poor, marginalized sanctions of the population such as – women, children, landless, asset less and slum dwellers. It also includes organization and conscientisation of the poor such that they could play a more active role in defining and working towards their own development.
In order to prepare this dissertation, while working in the field for data collection, I observed in my field areas that female loan recipients of BRAC have improved their socio-economic condition to a considerable extent by using the micro-credit provided by BRAC. It is, however, evident from the most rural Bangladeshi villages that better socio-economic conditions of the female loan recipients facilitates to decide on their own all-striking issues of their everyday life. Most of these women, as observed, now choose their life partners without active family support, do their business with a man who comes beyond their family linkage; ride bicycle in the villages, go to the local market for shopping, return to home alone at dusk after the completion of work. All these characteristics interpret a qualitative change in the life style and pattern of behaviour of some of the rural women, which goes beyond the traditional behavioural norms and societal culture of Bangladesh society.
From proposed working title of my research, there are three main components to be discussed. These are traditional culture of Bangladesh, micro-credit program of BRAC and women empowerment. Women’s empowerment, or autonomy, is a multifaceted concept. In a patriarch cal society, as exists in large parts of India, men are placed in a more advantageous position than women. The family lineage and living arrangements are centered on men, and inheritance and succession practices tend to neglect women as well. The state of male supremacy is reflected in the child rearing and caring practices. The celebrations for the birth of a male child, and the differential treatment meted out to boys bears ample evidence of this. Access to nutrition, child care and education all favor boys over girls. From a very early age, a girl is socialized to give priority to the needs of the male members in the family. The cumulative effect of these practices is a tilt in the power relations in favors of
Males. Women’s empowerment is essentially an effort to rectify this imbalance and attain gender equity.



1.1 Statement of the problem:
Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries of the world where about 80% of the total population live in the rural areas. About 50% of the rural population lives below the poverty line (Fifty five-year Plans 1997-2002). Now a day’s poverty often forces women to work outside their home, which is unusual in the context of social set up of rural Bangladesh (Westergard, 1983). Poverty is regarded as one of the greatest threats to the population growth as well as environment and the poor are the worst victims of environment degradation cause by reason of poverty. Average per capita income is 365 US$ and almost half of the total population of Bangladesh still continues to eke out an existence below poverty line (FFYP, P-1). Underdeveloped rural economy of Bangladesh is reflected in the low productivity, high population pressure, unemployment, lack of working opportunities outside agriculture and the resultant deteriorating living condition of the rural poor. Rural illiteracy is also high. They are often called (Functionally landless) and their number is also growing at the alarming rate. In order to dismal poverty and massive unemployment problem, the question of development problem, the question of development of rural women comes. Women can work outside the home with a man who came from beyond her family kinship. Women are sitting in front of bank worker for centre meeting which is not usual in the rural village of Bangladesh. Some empirical studies show that fertility rate is low where micro-credit is available for women. Use of contraception is contrary to the traditional values of rural villages. Women are more concern about child-well being. They are sending their daughter to the school where female education was extremely limited. When women are working outside the home, other family members taking care of the household work where women are solely responsible for household work.
From the above description, it reveals that there is a slow movement towards modernity.
The question is how women are coping with this changing situation?
What is the impact of changing life style of women on family culture?
 What is the gender relationship after taking the credit?
Giving and taking interest against the loan is strictly prohibited in Islam. There is no general banking system without interest. How is general money lending system effect the religious culture? How the women explain the term interest from the religious point of view?

1.2 Rationale of the study:
.   Rural development is the core focus of our national economic development program. Because 85% core focus of the total population live in rural areas in Bangladesh. But although about half of the total populations are women, yet their participation in economic activities is very low. It is commonly known the rural women are in lack of education, proper knowledge connecting their development. But it is no denying the fact that with out the development large female section of the country, absolute development is impossible. So to ensure the socio-economic growth and development of the country, development of women is very necessary.



1.3   Objectives of the study:
The main purpose of the study is to analysis the role of BRAC for  rural development by uplifting of economic conditions of rural women. However the specific objectives of the study are as follows.
 a) To identify the socio economic background of rural women in Bangladesh.
 b) To study the transparent concept about various Programs of BRAC in Bangladesh.
 c) To examine the Programs of BRAC for poverty alleviation and women empowerment.
 To know how the Programs implemented in poverty alleviation.
 To find out the impact on income, expenditure, saving, capital and occupation of the beneficiaries.
 To identify problems faced by selected respondents and BRAC personnel.
 To make some recommendations for solving these problem.

1.4 Scope of the study:
The growth of and its policy towards rural development could be studied with particular emphasis on the rural women development. There are many NGOs in Bangladesh. BRAC is one of the dominating NGOs which doing activities over 64 districts (460 thanas, 60627 villages, 2364 urban slums, 68 million people). The study covers only 1 branch office of  BRAC, BDP in Kushtia ( Bittipara) But all village members in concerned areas are not include here. Only 50 BRAC loaner members and 10 BRAC official personnel were interviewed on random basis who express their opinion from various point of views.

1.5   Review of the Related Literature:
I have made a modest attempt to conduct a search of existing literature on the finding of BRAC finance for rural development. Some worth out comes of these study are mentioned in the following with the shortened.
Hashemi, Schuler and Riley (1996) in the study conducted on BRAC and GB participants using eight quantitative indicators tried to show that involvement in credit program
empowers women by providing them with the impetus to make economic contributions to their house holds, gain a voice in familial decision – making, make large and small purchases, increase their interactions with outside world, as well as, protest political and legal injustice. According to study findings, a participant in both BRAC and GB has significant positive effects on the above mentioned areas of women lives.

Other study finding (Huda et al, 1996) also shoes that women who participate in BRAC make great contributions to household income at aggregate level than do non-members, own greater number of assets and have significantly more saving than do non-members.

The second impact assessment study on BRAC’s RDP was conducted in 1996-97 (Hussain, 1998). The finding of the study shows that RDP inputs have had significantly positive impact on the socio economic well being of participants. BRAC group members’ households have higher assets and higher net worth than nonmembers. Their average per capita calorie consumption and total food and non food expenditure are also significantly higher than those of non-members. And they have better housing facilities, enjoy better health and sanitation facilities and have a higher rate of contraceptive use. The findings indicate improvement in poverty status and relatively better position of BRAC house holds in terms of incidence and intensity of poverty. BRAC households were also found to be less vulnerable to crisis than non-members.
.
Siraz (1999) in a study shows that RDP of BRAC has had some notable achievement particularly in primary health care, non-formal primary education, and income and employment generation and credit assistance to the rural poor. BRAC activities have shown to yield positive impact for the beneficiaries. This positive impact has been for both income and non-income indicators of household welfare. BRAC activities help the rural people in changing their previous traditional life style. Now group members of BRAC earn more money for their life style. Credit program of BRAC provides groups members with loan. They established much income generating projects their living standard is increasing day by day.
The first comprehensive impact assessment study on BRAC’s RDP was conducted in 1993-94 (Musharaf et all, 1996). The findings of the study showed positive economic impact RDP on its p-participants. A number of other studies were conducted on different aspects of RDP’s impact on participant. Ahmed’s (1998) study on economic empowerment of the rural poor found significant gain in income and other households condition of members over those of comparison households.
Khondoker and Chowdhury (1995) in their study on targeted credit programs and rural poverty in Bangladesh assesses the poverty alleviation impact of three programs viz. BRAC, Gramin Bank and Bangladesh rural development Board’s RD-12 project. The study findings indicate positive contribution of the program in poverty reduction and sustaining household welfare. They estimated that it takes five years for the poor participants to cross the poverty line and eight years for economic graduation. They also found a shift from farm to non-farm investment as a result of program intervention.

Zaman (1997) in his study shows the positive contribution of BRAC program on poverty reduction but the benefits were not found evenly among the different socio-economic groups. Results appear to suggest that the poorest members did not benefit much from BRAC interventions.

Ashraf anmd et.all (1999) in a study expose that after involvement with BRAC , women had learnt about maintenance of good health and prevention of disease and availability of health and family planning service . People’s awareness of safe water and latrine use was also found to be raised among the loanees. Most of the village organization (VO’s) members received loan, which were being used in income generating activities like small trades, home gardening, poultry rearing, cattle rearing etc. Some women expected more loans from BRAC. Besides, being benefited from BRAC’s loan, women were much more concerned with saving some money out of BRAC activities. More importantly, they stopped borrowing money from the rich money lenders in the village. After the credit Program being introduced, women status has been slightly improved among their husbands because women have started bringing cash. The credit program has indeed brought some changes in women lives.



1.6     Methodology of the study:
The study covered the BRAC activities of Kushtia district. The study has been performed through interview with 70 loanees (all  of them are women) who have taken loans from BRAC selected randomly from 4 branches of these district. Both primary and secondary data were used for the study. Primary data have been collected by personal interview with selected entrepreneurs by preparing an open-end questionnaire. Secondary data have been collected from area office of BRAC in Kushtia, different journals, periodicals, books, related publications, internet etc. The following research questions are designed for mapping the central concern of the study:

• How the micro-credit of the BRAC does is disbursed to its clients, women in particular?
• Does micro-credit make any change to the recipients’ socio-economic, political, and cultural condition?
• What are the strategies of BRAC to empower rural women?
• How does the empowerment affect the culture of the some social institutions especially family, marriage, religion, economic, political?


1.7    Limitations of the study:
No work is free from any limitation for preparing the report the researcher suffers a lot of problems. Some of these problems are given below:
1. For the preparation of report, various relevant data and information are most essential. But the officials did not cooperate just enough to meet requirement. Moreover , they did not provide various types of manual , journal , report books in relating to BRAC activities due to their official constrains imposed by the higher authority;
2. The field works was limited to only area Bittipara under kushtia district. The study could not cover the other area due to lack of time and resources constraint
3. The sample respondents are most illiterate. Due to their illiteracy proper and adequate answer did not come out against the questionnaire. In addition to , shyness of the respondents is also another drawback of the study;
4. To prepare an analytical report need financial aid provided by the department is insufficient. In perceptive   of lack of sufficient money , various types of analysis did not possible ;
5. To prepare an analytical report need financial aid provided by the department is insufficient. In perspective lack of sufficient money , various types of analysis did not possible ;
6. Due to limited time, it is not possible to prepare the report properly.
7. The data of 2010 is not available.


1.8   Definition of Concept &Terms Used:

NGO
Rural development is the core focus of our national economic development program. Because 85% core focus of the total population live in rural areas in Bangladesh and about 50% living below poverty line. But although about half of the total population is women, yet their participation in economic activities is very low. It is commonly known the rural women are in lack of education, proper knowledge connecting their development. But it is know defining the fact that with out the development large female section of the country is impossible. So the ensure balanced socio-economic growth and development of the country, development of women is felt necessary. Development efforts in a welfare state can be successfully realized only with the active and organized participation of people, draws its strength and substance from the action and imitative of voluntary are nicest and organization, also know as non-government organization (NGO).the essence of social economic development is synonymous with grass-roots development and the nativity setup and coverage of NGOs is indeed. a natal component of planned development by government and its departments and agencies. From upgraded areas to provision of potable water to thousands of deprived village. From care of the aged destitute and abandonee children to slum children indolent in vocational activates and therefore immensely challenge. This is in essence the core of the task of nation-building
 NON-GOVERMENT organization (NGO) referring a legal constituted organization created by natural or legal persons with no participation or representation of any government. in many jurisdictions these types of organization is define also as “civil society organizations”. the term,” in government organization” or NGO, came into use in 1945 because of the need for the UN to differentiate in its charter between participation rights for  intergovernmental specialized agencies and those for international private organization. At the UN, virtually all types of private bodies can be recognized as NGOs. They only have to be independent from government control, not seeking to challenge governments either as a political party or by an arrow focus on human rights, on profit-making and non –criminal. As of 2003, there were reportedly over 20,000 NGOs active in Iran. the majority of these organizations are charity.
organizations, and thus would not fall under the category of development-oriented NGOs .in this document the term NGO is primarily used for organizations other than  charitable organizations. The structures of NGOs vary considerably. With the improvement in communications, more locally-based group, referred to as grass-roots organizations or community based organizations, have become active at the national or even the global level
Increasingly this occurs through the formation of coalitions with other NGOs for particular goals, such as was the case in the case of the bam earthquake for example. A civil society is composed of three sectors;-government, the private sector and civil society, excluding businesses .NGOs are components of social movement within a civil society. in the case of Iran, where civil society is not yet mature, NGOs can have an important role in strengthening the foundations of an emergent civil society. The issue of independence is an important one in the credibility of an NGO .it is hard for NGOs not to come under any government influence. Individual governments do at times try to influence the NGO community in a particular field, by establishing NGOs that promote their policies. this has been recognized by quite common use of the acronym go NGO, to label a government organized(NGO) also, in more authoritarian societies, NGOs may find it very difficult to act independently and they may not receive acknowledgement from other political actors even when they are acting independently. on the other hand, development and humanitarian relief NGOs need substantial resources to run their operational programs, so most of them reedit accept official funds. it is thus important for the NGOs to have transparency in its operations and goals so that its relationship
Micro-finance:
Micro finance, also known as micro credit, has emerged as a movement in Bangladesh and in the larger part in the world. There has been unprecedented growth of micro finance NGOs in this country over the past two and half decades. Bangladesh can be considered birthplace of the current concept of micro finance. This country provides models of recognized global significance in several aspects of micro finance, viz. scale of operation, modes, and practices of micro finance, wider financial services and poverty alleviation. The experience of Bangladesh is increasingly being replicated in many developing countries. The sector is now in transition is term of process and operational strategies. at the same time , it is encountering some challenges which need to be addressed . This paper discusses growth of the sector, its impact and up coming issues including the challenges. The discussion is focused on the micro finance NGOs which is the major actors in this field. The experiences of BRAC are reflected in this discussion.
Micro finance, in simple term, can be described as small loans offered to poor households to foster self- employment and income generation. The loans largely go to rural landless, disadvantaged women and marginal farmers who depend largely on selli9ng their labor. The terminology of micro credit has undergone a change in recent time. Practitioners in many countries call it micro finance for its wider dimension. Micro finance generally involves the following features:
• Small loans , for both Working capital and assets
• Collateral free , substituted by group guarantees or compensatory savings
• Access to repeat and larger loans
• Intensive supervision and close monitoring
• Secure saving products
• Loan period generally for one year , may go up to 3 years
• Options available of weekly / monthly installment payment
• Can combine social development with financial intimidation.
About 60 million people in Bangladesh, nearly half of the country’s population, live below the poverty line. But the poor did not practically have any access to institutional credit, primarily because they are not considered creditworthy. So they could not borrow from the banks or other financial institutions. The informal money market including the traditional moneylenders provides loans but charge exorbitant rate of interest. Micro finance thus found a space to operate for the poor.
Mandatory Saving
Mandatory saving means the saving which must have to save for every BRAC member. The minimum saving is TK 2 and maximum is TK 20. The BRAC loan depends on the amount of mandatory saving. For saving TK 50 loan allowed TK 1000. Every week an amount of TK within 2-20 must have to save besides the loan amount installment.
Empowerment Definitions
The verb ‘empower’ has been defined in the Webster’s II New Riverside University Dictionary and Funk and Wagnall’s Canadian College Dictionary as to “invest with legal power”, to “authorize” and to “enable”. The following table attempts to provide a chart of definition with components of empowerment that I have compiled from several studies:
Table-1: Definition and key words of empowerment
Author Definition Key terms
Keller and Mbwewe (1991) Empowerment is a process whereby women become able to organize themselves to increase their own self-reliance, to assert their independent right to make choices and to control resources which will assist in challenging and eliminating their own subordination. Self-reliance, choices, control over resources
G.Sen (1993) Altering relations of power...which constrain women’s options and autonomy and adversely affect health and well-being. Power relation, option, autonomy
Batliwala (1994) How much influence people have over external actions that matter to their welfare. Influence over external action, welfare.
Oxfam (1995) Empowerment involves challenging the form of oppression that compel millions of people to play a part in their society on terms which are inequitable, or in ways which deny their human rights. Oppression, inequality, human rights.
Rowlands (1995) Empowerment is not only about opening up access to decision making but also must include processes that lead people to perceive themselves as able and entitled to occupy that decision-making space.  Participation of the decision making process.
Oxaal and Baden (1997) Empowerment cannot be defined in terms of specific activities or end results because it involves a process whereby women can freely analyse, develop and voice their needs and interests, without them being pre-defined, or imposed from above, by planners or other social actors. Freedom of choices, self-reliance.
Kabeer (2001) The expansion in people’s ability to make strategic life choices in a context where this ability was previously denied to them. Ability to make strategic life choices.

From this multi-dimensional definition of empowerment, it is evident that empowerment has several different and inter-related aspects. But we found some overlapping key terms in defining empowerment: options, choice, control and power. Most often these are referring to women’s ability to make decisions, control over one’s life and over resources and make strategic life choices.
In sum, empowerment is a participatory process where by using various resources (financial resources, knowledge, skill, technology etc.), women are able to achieve control over their lives, resources, make more choices and options which they do not have before.

The term empowerment covers a vast landscape of meanings, interpretations, definitions and disciplines ranging from psychology and philosophy to the highly commercialized self-help industry and motivational sciences.
Sociological empowerment often addresses members of groups that social discrimination processes have excluded from decision-making processes through - for example - discrimination based on disability, race, ethnicity, religion, or gender. Empowerment as a methodology is often associated with feminism:
Many use the term empowerment without understanding what it really means. A literature review resulted in no clear definition of the concept, especially one that could cross-disciplinary lines. This article defines empowerment as a multi-dimensional social process that helps people gain control over their own lives. It is a process that fosters power in people for use in their own lives, their communities and in their society, by acting on issues they define as important. The Connecticut People Empowering People program uses this for many in Extension; empowerment is the goal we have for our programs and the volunteers, participants, or clients with whom we work. But what is empowerment? How can we recognize it? Evaluate it? Talk about it with others who are interested in empowerment? Our recent literature review of articles indicating a focus on empowerment, across several scholarly and practical disciplines, resulted in no clear definition of the concept across disciplinary lines. Many using the term cope with its lack of clear, shared meaning by employing the concept very narrowly, using only their specific scholarly discipline or program to inform them. Others do not define the term at all. As a result, many have come to view "empowerment" as nothing more than the most recently popular buzz word to be thrown in to make sure old programs get new funding.
We maintain that empowerment is much more than that. Empowerment is a process that challenges our assumptions about the way things are and can be. It challenges our basic assumptions about power, helping, achieving, and succeeding. To begin to demystify the concept of empowerment, we need to understand the concept broadly in order to be clear about how and why we narrow our focus of empowerment for specific programs and projects (specific dimension or level, etc.) and to allow discussion of empowerment across disciplinary and practice lines. Understanding empowerment became a critical issue for us as we grappled with the task of sharing the People Empowering People (PEP) program with Extension faculty across the country.
Understanding Power
At the core of the concept of empowerment is the idea of power. The possibility of empowerment depends on two things. First, empowerment requires that power can change. If power cannot change, if it is inherent in positions or people, then empowerment is not possible, nor is empowerment conceivable in any meaningful way. In other words, if power can change, then empowerment is possible. Second, the concept of empowerment depends upon the idea that power can expand. This second point reflects our common experiences of power rather than how we think about power. To clarify these points, we first discuss what we mean by power.
Power is often related to our ability to make others do what we want, regardless of their own wishes or interests (Weber, 1946). Traditional social science emphasizes power as influence and control, often treating power as a commodity or structure divorced from human action (Lips, 1991). Conceived in this way, power can be viewed as unchanging or unchangeable. Weber (1946) gives us a key word beyond this limitation by recognizing that power exists within the context of a relationship between people or things. Power does not exist in isolation nor is it inherent in individuals. By implication, since power is created in relationships, power and power relationships can change. Empowerment as a process of change, then, becomes a meaningful concept.

A brief exercise makes the importance of this discussion clear. Quickly, list three words that immediately come to mind when you hear the word power. For most people, words that come to mind when we think about power often revolve around control and domination. Focusing on these aspects of power limit our ability to understand and define empowerment.
The concept of empowerment also depends upon power that can expand, our second stated requirement. Understanding power as zero-sum, as something that you get at my expense, cuts most of us off from power. A zero-sum conception of power means that power will remain in the hands of the powerful unless they give it up. Although this is certainly one way that power can be experienced, it neglects the way power will remain in the hands of the powerful unless they give it up. Although this is certainly one way that power is experienced, it neglects the way power is experienced in most interactions. Another brief exercise highlights the importance of a definition of power that includes expansion. Answer the question; "Have you ever felt powerful?" Was it at someone's expense? Was it with someone else?
Grounded in an understanding that power will be seen and understood differently by people who inhabit various positions in power structures (Lukes, 199 4), contemporary research on power has opened new perspectives that reflect aspects of power that are not zero-sum, but are shared. Feminists (Miller, 1976; Starhawk, 1987), members of grassroots organizations (Bookman & Morgen, 1984), racial and ethnic groups (Nicola-McLaughlin & Chandler, 1984), and even individuals in families bring into focus another aspect of power, one that is characterized by collaboration, sharing and mutuality (Kreisberg, 1992).
Researchers and practitioners call this aspect of power "relational power"(Lappe & DuBois, 1994), generative power (Korten, 1987), "integrative power," and "power with" (Kreisberg, 1992).This aspect means that gaining power actually strengthens the power of others rather than diminishing it such as occurs with domination/power. Kreisberg has suggested that power defined as "the capacity to implement" (Kreisberg, 1992:57) is broad enough to allow power to mean domination, authority, influence, and shared power or "power with." It is this definition of power, as a process that occurs in relationships, that gives us the possibility of empowerment.
Understanding Empowerment
Empowerment is a construct shared by many disciplines and arenas: community development, psychology, education, economics, and studies of social movements and organizations, among others. How empowerment is understood varies among these perspectives. In recent empowerment literature, the meaning of the term empowerment is often assumed rather than explained or defined. Rappoport (1984) has noted that it is easy to define empowerment by its absence but difficult to define in action as it takes on different forms in different people and contexts. Even defining the concept is subject to debate. Zimmerman (1984) has stated that asserting a single definition of empowerment may make attempts to achieve it formulaic or prescription-like, contradicting the very concept of empowerment.
A common understanding of empowerment is necessary, however, to allow us to know empowerment when we see it in people with whom we are working, and for program evaluation. According to Bailey (1992), how we precisely define empowerment within our projects and programs will depend upon the specific people and context involved.
As a general definition, however, we suggest that empowerment is a multi-dimensional social process that helps people gain control over their own lives. It is a process that fosters power (that is, the capacity to implement) in people, for use in their own lives, their communities, and in their society, by acting on issues that they define as important.
Empowerment, by definition, is a social process, since it occurs in relationship to others. Empowerment is a process that is similar to a path or journey, one that develops as we work through it. Other aspects of empowerment may vary according to the specific context and people involved, but these remain constant. In addition, one important implication of this definition of empowerment is that the individual and community are fundamentally connected. Definition to connect research, theory, and practice.

Key themes about empowerment from women’s responses:
From the studies, a number of key themes emerged as critical to women’s empowerment:
Matrimonial stability - many women viewed legalized marriage as a form of protection from abandonment and for their rights to be upheld. However, the possible negative effects or harms from legalized marriage are not yet clear and CARE must continue research on this aspect of empowerment in order to understand the dynamics of marriage for women’s empowerment as well as possible harms that may result from legalized marriage or civil unions.
Access to income - many women discussed the importance of earning their own money as a key for greater empowerment and independence from men. The research also found that not all women had equal access to credit. This discovery called for greater research on how age, ethnicity, socio-economic status, literacy and behaviors may limit or preclude women’s participation in groups or gain access to credit.
Management of household resources - Typically men are responsible for decisions on how household resources are allocated. Thus, women felt that greater decision-making power was important for them to gain respect and minimize household conflicts.
Involvement in community decision-making - In addition to greater voice and participation in household decision-making, women also expressed the desire to take greater responsibilities at the community level. This involves both taking part in conflict resolution as well as community development committees that would allow women greater access to justice and productive resources.
Gender based violence - In Burundi, violence against women is both pervasive and reinforced in local traditions and proverbs. Taboo surrounding violence also prevents women from reporting violence in their homes. In order to effectively counter violence, the study also found that it is important to combat violence at multiple levels (individual, household, community, regional and national) through psycho-social support for women and couples to advocacy in communities and national government against violence against women.
Sexuality - Taboo also surrounds subjects related to sexual relations. women and men both felt that it would be important for families to empower women to discuss sex and family planning with her husband. To reinforce more open communication between men and women, staff must gain skills in facilitating sensitive conversations between men and women. CARE must begin by questioning our own beliefs, attitudes and behaviors in relation to sexuality.
Access to information and training - Finally, women also discussed the importance of having access to information and training for their empowerment. Among women, leaders attributed their skills to both formal and non-formal education and training.
Reviewing BRAC’s work on women’s empowerment, the studies found that while projects have actively sought to build women’s skills and knowledge to excel, as well as helped them gain social capital through work with mobilizing groups and training men on women’s issues, BRAC’s work in kushtia has not placed enough emphasis on changing the traditional gendered structures that perpetuate women’s disempowerment. Across responses,
Most BRAC members are women
*  They are disciplined &easily accessible
*  They are quite listeners & responsive
*  They are available for day time weekly meeting
*  They behave responsibly in repayment of weekly saving & loan    installment
*  They have no place to run away or hide out avoiding repayment.
*  They could be easily traced / contracted in their home in case of default & other exigencies
*  They are saving oriented
*  They utilize the loan properly

CHAPTER-2
BRAC AN OVERVIEW

2.1   Background, Growth & development of BRAC:
BRAC was founded in 1972 by Fazle Hassan Abed, It began as a committee of concerned individuals who pledged to bring aid to thousands of refuges returning to their house in Sulla, a remote rural district in the Sylhet region under the guidance and leadership of Mr. Fazle Hasan Abed, the founder and executive director, BRAC carried out an intensive relief and rehabilitation operation in Sulla for one year. But relief assistance, critical as it is in times of an emergency, created a state of dependency and did not provide long term solutions for the problems of a poor , war revenged country. Thus in 1973, BRAC shifted its approach to community development involving the rural communities as a whole. However, BRAC soon realized that with in the larger village communities there were other communities that did not share the same values and resources. The village power base, comprising of the local elite, controlled much of the economic and social opportunities of the poor.

As a result, in 1976 BRAC underwent a second transformation in its approach to rural achievement. It decides to bypass the upper levels of village hierarchy and work directly with the underprivileged. The target population consisted of the poorest of the poor, day laborers, fisher men without tools or adequate fishing rights, artisans, other petty traders and women who were productive but whose economic contribution was not adequately recognized. They formed a significant segment of the population. They were landless owned no assets and sold manuals labour to survive. BRAC’s goal of empowerment of the poor and poverty alleviation required more than awareness raising and skills training. The people needed access to financial resources. Extending credit became a corner stone of BRAC’s strategy.

BRAC research clearly shows that women in Bangladesh played a much more vital role in production than had been heat hearts to acknowledge. Most women were economically and socially deprived, yet they were for the most part responsible for the management of households. Women also had the potential to bring maximum change in the family in particular and the community in general. Experience showed that as the poor rural women were contained to manage the entire household with extremely limited means, they turned out to be better resources managers than their male counterparts. Therefore, if women gained access to resources, the impact would be more profound and sustainable. Furthermore, the growing number of households headed by women, as a result of the death of spouse, divorce, desertion and male migration had left many women as sole provides for the family. Recognition of these facts led BRAC to develop gender perspectives in its programs. BRAC took on the formidable task of living the playing field for women in both social and economic spheres.

BRAC’s programs cover the main aspects of the life of the people with home it works. The three core areas are rural development, education and health. In addition, BRAC in recent years has yesterted urban programs. BRAC’s rural development program focus on the socio – economic development of underprivileged rural women through access to credit, capacity development, saving mobilization, institution building and aware ness creation. The Non formal primary education program provides education for the children of these children of these women, whole the health and population program is aimed at addressing the health and nutrition status of women and children at the community and national level. Efforts are made to ensure that these programs complement each other.

At a glance growth and development of BRAC by time line :

1972 BRAC starts in Sulla Sylhet as are leaf agency  
1973 Transition to the development program
1974 Relief work among famine and flood victims of Rowmari, Kurigram
1975 RED established , Jamalpur Women’s Project commence
1976 Manikgong intergraded project underway
1977 BRAC commences a tar gated development approach through VOs BRAC printers stars operation ,
1978 BRAC starts in Sulla Sylhet as are leaf agency  
1979 Transition to the development program
1980 Relief work among famine and flood victims of Rowmari, Kurigram
1981 RED established , Jamalpur Women’s Project commence
1982 Manikgong intergraded project underway
1983 BRAC commences a tar gated development approach through VOs BRAC printers stars operation ,
1984 TARC setup as Savar  , Arong setup in Dhaka, Sericulture Stars in Manikgong
1985 Out reach RCTP Poultry Program commences
1986 OTEP launched
1983 Livestock Program developed
1985 NEPE,REP launched
1986 RDP formed and RCPT and outreached, CSP commences
1987 IGVGD started
1988 Monitoring
1990    Rural credit under RCP commences
1991    WHDP commences
1992    BCDM established
1993    Training division, WAC setup
1994     NFPE setup a desk in Nairbi under the auspices of UNICEF, to                                                                    
Some African countries on primary education, Arong open a branch In London, UK.
1995 Fifteen Adult literacy  centers opened under NFPE , BRAC enters Global partnership for NGO studies , education and training , GQAL and GRC setup
1996 RDP IV commences MELA launched , BRAC BD mail goes in to operation ,
1997 Urban Development project starts , BRAC dairy and Food Project commissioned , Delta BRAC launched
1998 BRAC information technology institute launched , Chittagong Hill Tracts integrated  Development Project underway
1999 BRAC opens Primary School
2000 BRAC university
2001 BRAC Bank


     

2.2   Objectives of BRAC
1) To help raise consciousness among the target beneficiaries about the prevailing social system and their positions in the society
2) To increase the literacy rate through providing literacy and functional education to the illiterate target people.
3) To promote planned families and reducing maternal and child mortality rate.
4) To make people aware on sanitation and ensuring safe drinking water and hygienic latrines.
5) To provide credit support to help the poor in increasing their income through generating safe-employment opportunity.
6) To develop a capable human resources through human and skill development training
7) To promote a clean and sustainable disaster .To generate own income of the organization.
8) To mobilize and organize the disadvantages people around groups for the improvement of their living standard




2.3 BRAC at a Glance (As on December 31, 2003)

Program Coverage  Job creation
District
Thanas
Village
Urban Slums
Population covered
Water body under fisheries
Land under agricultures  64
460(out of 496)
60,627
2,364
68 million
39,077 Acres
271,921 Acres  Poultry
Livestock
Agriculture
Social forestry
Fisheries
Sericulture
Horticulture
Agnes forestry
Handicraft
Small enterprise
Small traders 1,476,911
280,905
575,857
29,431
215,330
14,860
146,522
38,579
13,172
50,311
1,519,673

Development Programs  
Village organization
Membership total
      - Female
      - Male
Loan distribution year 2001

Loan distribution
 – Cumulative

Loan outstanding

Repayment Rate
Member saving

Currently Enrolled in BRAC schools
Graduated (till to date)
Legal literacy
 -courses held
 -Learners completed
 109,288
4,138,133
4,080,067
58,066

Tk-15,099.82 million
US$ 274.54 million
Tk-69,544.30 million
US$ 1,502.30 million

Tk-8,345.56 million
US$ 151.74 million
98.85%
Tk-4,304.99 million
US$ 78.27 million

1.10 million

2.1 million
79,295
1,855,425  
   Human resources

   Staff
School teachers
Community veterinarians
Community health workers
Poultry workers
Community nutrition workers
 26,362
33,370
3,654
20,209
46,423
6,424



   Program infrastructure
   Regional officers
Area offices
Team Offices
Training centre
Health centers
Diagnostic Laboratories
Community Nutrition centers
Antenatal care Canters
School
Libraries
School reading centers
Handicraft Production centers Limb & Brace Centre 104
459
1,175
14
90
90
5,840
2,639
34,086
570
6,500
243
1



Commercial enterprises  
Arong shops
Printing press
Dairy & Food Project

 5
1
1  

BRAC, formerly known as Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee, was established as a relief and rehabilitation organisation in 1972 after the Bangladesh Liberation War by Mr. Fazle Hasan Abed. Over the years BRAC has gradually evolved into a large and multifaceted development organisation with the twin objectives of Alleviation of Poverty and Empowerment of the Poor.


Program Coverage

Districts
64(100%)
Thanas (Sub-districts) 460(out of 496)
Villages 61,301 (out of 86,000)
Urban Slums 2,369
Population Covered 68 million
Water-body under Fisheries 46,696 Acres
Land under Agriculture 313,320 Acres


Development Program

Village Organizations
110,211
Membership – Total 3,505,606
Loan Disbursement
(January – June 2002) Tk. 8,049.45 million
US$ 140.23 million
Loan Disbursement – Cumulative Tk. 77,593.75 million
US$ 1,642.53 million
Loan Outstanding Tk. 8,626.35 million
US$ 150.28 million
Repayment Rate 99.12 %
Members' Savings Tk. 4,614.55 million
US$ 80.39 million
Currently Enrolled in BRAC Schools
Graduated 1.10 million
2.4 million
Legal Literacy - Courses Held
– Learners Completed 82,840
1,918,806

Job Creation

Poultry
1,570,175
Livestock 307,359
Agriculture 587,978
Social Forestry 29,431
Fisheries 232,300
Sericulture 16,240
Horticulture 155,421
Agro-Forestry 40,781
Handicraft Producers 13,208
Small Enterprises 55,049
Small Traders 1,642,185

Human Resources
Staff
28,071
School Teachers 33,621
Community Health & Nutrition Volunteers 19,465
Community Veterinarians 3,645
Poultry Workers 51,112
Community Nutrition Workers 7,226
Nutrition Women Members 71,910

Program Infrastructure

Regional Offices
104
Area Offices 465
Team Offices 1,187
Training & Resource Centres 14
Health Centres 90
Diagnostic Laboratories 90
Community Nutrition Centres 7,191
Antenatal Care Centres 2,639
Schools 34,053
Libraries 650
School Reading Centres 6,888
Handicraft Production Centres 245
Limb and Brace Centre 1

Program Support Enterprises

Name
No. Capacity (annual)
Poultry Farms 6 15 million chicks
Feed Mills 3 35,000 MT
Prawn Hatcheries 8 15 million post larvae
Fish Hatcheries 4 4,500 kg fish spawn
Seed Processing Centres 2 6,000 MT
Seed Production Farms 18 4,000 MT
Sericulture
- Silk Reeling Centres
– Grainages
2
12
15MT
2.0 million dfl
Nurseries 20 2.1 million
Bull Station 1 120,000 dose

Vegetable Export

Year 2002

French Beans 101.7 tons
Potato 190.0 tons
Broccoli 4.9 tons
Chili 98.7 tons
Bitter Gourd 38.5 tons
Long Beans 34.1 tons
Teasle Gourd 10.1 tons
OKRA 0.73 tons
Others 40.0 tons
Year 2003 ( Jan - August )
French Beans 53.4 tons
Potato 350.0 tons
Broccoli 3.3 tons
Chili 125.1 tons
Bitter Gourd 88.1 tons
Long Beans 142.2 tons
Teasle Gourd 5.4 tons
OKRA 8.4 tons
Others 20.0 tons
Exported to: England, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, UAE, Bahrain, Singapore, Hong Kong and Maldives



Commercial Projects

Name
No.
Aarong Shops
8
Printing Press 1
Dairy & Food Project 1

Related Companies/Institutions
Annual Expenditure

Year
Amount Donor Contribution (%)
1999 Tk. 6,283 million
US$ 130 million 32%
2000 Tk. 7,708 million
US$ 148 million 30%
2001 Tk. 8,024 million
US$ 152 million 21%
2002 Tk. 8,135 million
US$ 153 million 21%
2003  Tk. 9,420 million
US$ 166 million 18%





2.4    BRAC’s Mission:
BRAC works with people whose lives are dominated by extreme poverty, illiteracy disease and other handicaps. With multifaceted development interventions, BRAC strives to bring about a positive change in the quality of life of the poor people of Bangladesh particularly of women.
            BRAC is committed to making its programs society, financially and environmentally sustainable using innovative methods and appropriate technologies. BRAC firmly believes and is actively involved in promoting human rights, human dignity and gender equity.
            Although the emphasis of BRAC’s work is at individual level, sustaining the work of the organization depends on an environment that permits the poor to break out of the cycle of poverty and hopeless ness, which frustrates them. To this ends, BRAC endeavor to bring about change at the level of national and global policy on poverty alleviation and social progress.
The fulfillment of BRAC’s mission requires the contribution of competent professionals committed to the goals and values of BRAC. BRAC therefore fosters the development of the human potential of the members of the organization and those they serve.


2.5 Goal of BRAC:
To work for the overall human and socio-economic development of the disadvantaged through implementing people based development programs at grass roots levels. BRAC brings up two major goals, viz.
a. Poverty alleviation
b. Empowerment of rural poor.
2.6       BRAC Organo-gram  

2.7  Programs of BRAC (The BRAC Tree):

2.8 Rural Development Program (RDP):      
           The Rural Development Program (RDP) works with and for the disadvantaged rural population of Bangladesh, especially women. The ultimate goal of RDP is to contribute towards a just and equitable society, in which the poor and disadvantaged can, by joining together in their own organizations, attain a high degree of self-reliance managing their own affairs to achieve sustainable improvements in their livelihoods.

2.8.1   Institution Building and Social Mobilization
The Village Organization (VO) is the primary unit of institution building and the base for delivering services and inputs. Till date, BRAC had organized 4.07 million members into 110,064 Village Organizations in over 60,000 villages and urban slums across the country. The VO members meet once a week to discuss and facilitate credit operations and meet once a month to discuss various socio-political and legal issues that impact their lives, including social inequality and injustice, discrimination and violence against women.
BRAC staff and local lawyers receive and process cases that require court proceedings. Till date, a total of 6,069 complaints have been considered. Of these 2,851 have been successfully resolved through local arbitration, 1,940 have been taken to court. The chart below shows the proportion of complaints received with regards to each issue. In addition, BRAC staff takes appropriate actions against human rights abuses in their areas of operation (including rape, acid burning, or other forms of violence against women) whether or not the victim is affiliated with BRAC. BRAC has been using its country-wide network to identify cases of acid violence, providing immediate medical assistance and then putting the patient in touch with the Acid Survivor's Foundation (ASF) for further treatment and follow-up care. More than 200 victims have been referred to ASF.
 To date, a total of 5,654 such workshops have been held. Similarly, certain unjust, illegal and exploitative practices of society are highlighted through the Popular Theatre Program. The experience so far suggests that it is highly effective in building rapport and raising issues in local communities. In many cases the shows have had positive impact towards raising awareness and solving their problems. Till date, BRAC had formed 85 drama groups involving 872 performers. A total of 8,334 shows have been staged in 25 regions.

2.8.2   Micro Enterprise Lending and Assistance (MELA)
In December 1996 BRAC started the micro enterprise leading and assistance program with the aim of providing large loan to its members in order to develop their own small business. This section of the market usually referred to as the 'missing middle' remains typically unnerved-both by microfinance and commercial banks. Yet, the growth of such enterprises can have important poverty alleviating effects through direct employment generation and/or consumption linkages. A MELA loan is between US$ 400-4,000 (Taka 20,000-2, 00,000). Till date, the Program had 12,564 borrowers and a total of US$ 29.49 million (Tk 1,549 million) has been disbursed to them. The outstanding stands at US$ 8.03 million (Tk 453.5 million).
MELA is serving a new market segment and prior knowledge of financial services provision in this market is relatively less developed in Bangladesh. The lending technology, risk assessment and the need for financial service of this client group is fundamentally different from that of the microfinance market. MELA Program has already proved that there is significant demand and that serving this market is possible. In the future, MELA expects to be a solid platform for new vision and thinking in providing innovative financial services for micro-enterprises.

2.8.3    BRAC’s saving and Credit Program:
            Though years of experience, BRAC has learned that credit5 can be a valuable input to better the lives of the poor. The aim of BRAC’s saving and Credit Program is to help create a financial base for the group members through saving mobilization and so that they can carry out different income generating activities. BRAC first experimented with credit in 1974. However, it was through the RCPT program launched in 1979, that credit becomes an important component. Savings opportunities with BRAC provide members with found for consumption, children’s education and other investments. It also provides security for old age and serves as contingency fund during natural disasters- time when their income level flutters drastically. Credit on, other hand provides BRAC VO members with funds to initiate different income generating activities. Loan and given for both individual and joint activities and there is no collateral. However, VO members must have some saving with BRAC before they can take loans.

            BRAC’s current credit program, one of the largest in the world, has more than US$ 38 million in members and US$ 469 million as loans distributed. So far, the group members a string inclination to participate in this program and of them repays the loan.


2.8.3(a)    Poultry-Livestock
BRAC's poultry-livestock Program demonstrates how an integrated package of sector -specific training, input, and marketing services can enable large numbers of poor, landless women to participate in productive economic activities. The chick-rearers sell the three-month old chicks to over a million women throughout the country trained in various aspects of poultry rearing. A cadre of over 42,000 village women trained by BRAC provides vaccinations on an on-going basis in over 50,000 villages.
Besides poultry, group members take up goat and cow rearing for income generation. To ensure high return from livestock rearing, the cows are artificially inseminated to upgrade the local indigenous breed as high producing crossbreed animals by BRAC- trained local para-veterinarians. The cow rearers are also linked with BRAC Dairy Project, a ready market for the milk produced by them. Till date 1.56 million new jobs have been created in poultry Program. On an average, a poultry worker can earn up to US$ 12 (Tk 650) per month and a chick rearer can earn US$ 11 (Tk 600) per month. This achievement shows not only a significant increase in income level but also a positive change in their livelihood.

2.8.3(b)   Fisheries
The Fisheries Program has developed into one of the most promising and profitable income generating activities for rural women because of its high return, low time commitment and support from BRAC. Fish Extension Workers are responsible for producing fingerlings through nursery activities, ensure essential inputs supply, and provide day -to- day technical assistance to the fish farmers. The fisheries Program extends to include poor fishermen who are generally deprived of their rights to use large semi-closed water bodies (Oxbow lakes) to generate income and employment, and increase fish production. The Oxbow Lakes Fisheries Development Project is a partnership Program which includes International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), World Food Program (WFP), Government of Bangladesh and BRAC. Till date, 39,077 acres of water body have been brought under fish culture and 159,302 farmers are involved in fisheries Program.

 2.8.3 (c)   Agriculture
BRAC agriculture program assists its members to grow vegetable. BRAC's Agriculture Extension Program aims to increase the nutritional and income status of the rural households by increasing agricultural production through technology transfer, quality input supply and better organizational management practice of VO members and small farmers. Through this Program 20 VO members in each area receive training and become agriculture extension workers (AEW) and each of the AEWs is responsible for assisting another 30 participants in agriculture related activities. As there is a growing demand for maize and wheat from a number of commercial poultry farms in the country, BRAC encourages farmers to grow these crops. Under crop diversification scheme cotton, sunflower, mustard etc. are also grown. The Agriculture Program is running a number of collaborative projects with Bangladesh Rice Research Institutes (BRRI), Bangladesh Institute for Nuclear Agency (BINA), and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Till date there are 148,627 vegetable growers and 58,307 acres of land have been brought under vegetable cultivation and 839.37 MT of seed have been distributed. The average income in the agriculture sector ranges between Taka 1,200- Taka 1,600 per month. The BRAC Agriculture Program is contributing significantly to national agricultural development. At present, BRAC produces about 90% of maize seeds and 35% of vegetable seeds in Bangladesh. Besides, BRAC is marketing 80% of hybrid rice seeds in the country.


2.8.3(d)    Vegetable Export Program
Poor farmers require better skills and knowledge of modern agriculture practices. They also need assistance to obtain fair price for their produce. The Vegetable Export Program seeks to link these small farmers with international markets to bridge the distance between the local producer and international consumer. BRAC, in collaboration with HORTEX Foundation, started this Program in 1997-98 with particular focus on vegetables that have high demand in the European markets and can be grown in the climatic and soil conditions of Bangladesh. Training and technical assistance were provided to small farmers for producing particular crops, with arrangement for packing and transportation to wholesalers in Europe. After three years, the Program gained both qualitative and quantitative changes and is capable of exporting to markets in Asia and Europe.

2.8.3(e)  Social Forestry
In order to preserve the environment BRAC has initiated a social forestry program. The purpose of BRAC's Social Forestry Program is to alleviate poverty and simultaneously protect the environment. In Bangladesh, forests comprise only 6.5 % of the total land area. Per capita forestland constitute only 0.02 hector, which is one of the lowest in the world. On the other hand demand for timber and fuel wood are rising due to the growing population. To limit the large scale deforestation, BRAC's Social Forestry Program is working to bring all available land in the rural areas under forestation with the active participation of the rural poor.
 These centers are also used for research, demonstration and quality screening. At present there are 36,759 agro-forestry farmers and on an average a person can earn (Tk 2000-2500) per month from social forestry Program.

2.8.3(f)    Sericulture:
BRAC's five Sericulture Resource Centers provide technical training to the rearers on ideal rearing condition, feeding and breeding techniques and pest and disease control. The sericulture Program in the country was affected severely during the floods in 1998, which wiped out a large number of mulberry trees and bush plantations. As a result, raw silk production, cocoon production and other related components failed to achieve its target. Despite the major setback, the sericulture Program continued to achieve some of its targets. Till date there are 10,553 silkworm rearers and 20.54 million DFL has been distributed.

2.8.4 Income Generation for Vulnerable Group Development (IGVGD)
Income Generation for Vulnerable Group Development (IGVGD) Program is a nation-wide food assisted development Program targeted to reach destitute rural women who have no source of income and do not receive support from any male earning member. Through World Food Program and the Government, these vulnerable women are selected to receive 30kg of wheat per month while BRAC provides training in a range of income generating activities, basic health care services, human rights and legal education and credit. This innovative package not only addresses the basic symptoms of extreme poverty, it also applies a strategy to pull them out of their status quo. Given that these women are among the most vulnerable and chronic poor, the fact that over a period of five years more than 69% of those who were trained by BRAC became eligible to get credit from BRAC and other microfinance institutions, suggests a move from mere food transfer and charity towards a path of sustainable development of these households. The average loan size of first loan is 2,500 for one year. You are 287,350 VGD card holders and 103,446 MT wheat had been distributed.

2.8.5    Rural Enterprise Project (REP)
The rural enterprise program (REP) of BRAC was set up in 1985 to find and test new opportunities for rural development. In order to develop entrepreneurs among women, REP has created opportunities for them in non-farm activities like iodized salt production, hybrid paddy cultivation, hand made paper production, garbage collection for fertilizer production, garment waste processing etc. REP has two separate wings: Non-farm Enterprise Extension and Reinforcement (NEER) Program and Micro Enterprise Development (MED) Program. NEER encourages VO members to take non-traditional roles in creating and managing small enterprises like restaurants, grocery stores, tailoring, carpentry workshops and laundries. These initiatives were tested successfully under REP. Currently there are more than 4,556 grocery stores and restaurants operated by women members in different parts of the country. MED encourages poor women to get involved in non-traditional, non-farm enterprises simultaneously with their domestic work. Most of these enterprises provide rural women with an alternative source of income. For the MED Program, relatively undeveloped regions are given priority. In 1997, MED started in 50 BRAC operating areas and. till date a total of 6,877 restaurants, 24,282 grocery stores, 3,630 laundry, 10,311 tailoring shops and 3,038 other micro enterprises are operated by women members in different parts of the country.

2.8.6 Relief’s and Rehabilitation Program
Nearly 3.3 million people were affected and a large number of districts of the south western region of Bangladesh were submerged during the disastrous flood of 2000. The flood destroyed property, devastated farmlands, and marooned thousands of people. Hundred percent field crops and more than 82% houses were damaged. Although death rate was low compared to previous floods, an epidemic of water borne diseases posed a high risk among the flood affected population.
A total of 23,500 families were given financial assistance to rebuild their homesteads. Other forms of assistance were provided in terms of cash for work, farming and other entrepreneurial inputs. BRAC also aided to restore and rebuild damaged schools and supported students by distributing books and other educational materials. This project was supported by the Department For International Development (DFID), World Food Program (WFP), BRAC and the local community.

2.8.7    Education Program
There are two primary school models in the BRAC Education Program. In 1985, the Non Formal Primary Education (NFPE) model was initiated as a three-year Program for children between the ages of 8 and 10 years. These were children who had never enrolled in any school or who had dropped out from the formal schools. In 1998, this model was expanded to a four-year Program which covers the primary curriculum for grades 1 to 5. This was in response to the large number of BRAC graduates interested in continuing their education to secondary level. The BEOC (Basic Education for Older Children) schools known as Kishor-Kishori schools were opened in 1987. These schools run for three-years catering to the basic educational needs of 11 to 14 year old children. Both the NFPE and BEOC schools are provided with books and other materials free of charge. Most BRAC schools are bamboo or mud-walled, one-room village structures with a thatch or tin roof, and a minimum floor space of 360 square feet. The schoolhouse is usually rented by BRAC for a nominal sum and close to the homes of the students.

2.8.7(a)  Education Support Program (ESP)
BRAC's Education Support Program was first initiated in September 1991 to reach out to a larger population by partnering with local NGOs. This partnership increases BRAC's effort towards the eradication of illiteracy and also develops the technical, conceptual and human skills of smaller NGOs. At present ESP is providing its support to 303 NGOs for 2,505 schools.

2.8.7(b)  Continuing education Program
The Continuing Education Program (CEP) was introduced in 1995 its focus is the post-literacy activities of BEP. Through an organized network it aims to develop the reading habits of both the rural and urban people. These objectives are achieved through establishment of Union Libraries and Reading Centers.

2.8.7(c) Union Library or Gonokendra Pathagars
Union Libraries, or Gonokendra Pathagar aim to make reading materials available to people in villages. Every library has a children's corner. So far, 570 libraries have been opened and are run by the local community management committee with active support from BRAC. The management committee oversees the day-to-day functioning of the library, and also works on special events and fundraising. These libraries organized socio-cultural and learning events. In addition the library members were provided with free skill training in different areas in collaboration with different Govt. departments.

2.8.7(d)   Reading Center or Kishori  Pathagars
Reading Centers are set up two months before a Basic Education for Older Children (BEOC) School completes its cycle. The centers are set up to develop the reading habits of adolescent girls and women. In addition, they are provided with training to develop entrepreneurial skills. The centers highlighted the fact that women also need a place to socialize. Through Reading Centers young women are encouraged not only to read, but also to participate in indoor games and develop livelihood skills.

2.8.8   Health program:
 Since 1972, BRAC's health intervention has been an integral aspect of the organization. In the last three decades, BRAC's Health and Nutrition Program has made significant shift responding to people's changing needs toward health care. At present, BRAC's health intervention is a combination of preventive, curative and rehabilitative health services extending up to the national level. The health Program is operated in two directions: the first one is called the BRAC Health Program (BHP) and it is implemented in coordination with BRAC's Development Programs. The second one is the Nutrition Facilitation Program (NFP) implemented as a supportive Program of the Government.

Between 1986 and 1990, the Child Survival Program (CSP) was launched and this focused on childhood illness, vitamin A supplementation and immunization for the six preventable diseases. During 1986-1995, the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) facilitated the government's Program through mobilizing the communities and creating a demand for increasing coverage of vaccination. To provide health services to Village Organisation (VO) members a health care Program was designed by BRAC in 1986 and piloted a Primary Health Care (PHC) Program in six thanas as part of Child Survival Program (CSP). In 1991, the PHC activities were functionally transferred to the BRAC development Program and renamed as Essential Health Care (EHC) Program in 1995.

2.8.8(a)   Women's Health and Development Program (WHDP)
During 1991-1995, the Women's Health and Development Program (WHDP) initiated an integrated, comprehensive and community-based health interventions incorporating with BRAC's other Programs to achieve the goals of poverty alleviation and empowerment with a special focus on women and children through maternal and child health care.
From 1999 till 2003 the Health interventions have been providing preventive, promotive and curative measures by four major Programs: Reproductive Health and Disease Control Program (RHDC); Nutrition Facilitation Program (NFP); Rural Service Delivery Partnership (RSDP)/Health and Family Planning Facilitation Program (H&FPFP) under the National Integrated Population and Health Program (NIPHP) and Essential Health Care (EHC) and Shushasthos.

2.8.8(b)  New Health Initiatives
BRAC Health Program (BHP) is implementing a number of pilot projects such as the New Health Initiatives through its existing Program network in selected areas to resolve new or emerging public health problems that are responsible for a significant level of morbidity among the people.
In 2001, BRAC has undertaken the following pilot projects in collaboration with different funding agencies:
- The Micro-health Insurance Program.
- Community Based Arsenic Mitigation Project
- Early Childhood Development Project
- Newborn Health Care Initiative
-     Public-Private Partnership Project


2.8.8(c) Nutrition Facilitation Program
In the light of this, BRAC was invited in 1995 to be a member of the core team of conceptualizing and designing the Bangladesh Integrated Nutrition Project (BINP) along with the Government of Bangladesh and other developmental partners. Since July 1996, this US$ 65 million project, financed by a loan from the World Bank, is being implemented in 59 upazillas. BRAC was also given the responsibility to implement the project activities in four phases in 26 upazillas covering a population of around 7 million through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with the Bangladesh Integrated Nutrition Project (BINP), under the Ministry of Health, Government of Bangladesh. BRAC took on the full responsibility for planning, management, social mobilization, training, logistics support, and procurement of equipment and supplies and quality control through supportive supervision in these 26 upazillas.
 In the 5,840 Community Nutrition Centers (CNC), growth/ weight monitoring and promotion sessions were held with 461,056 mothers of children under two years of age and 255,710 pregnant & lactating women. Among the pregnant women 80% received antenatal care services at least thrice at the government Satellite/Family Welfare Centers and/or the Antenatal Natal Care Centers run by the CNOs. All the Government health functionaries (Family Welfare Visitor, Medical Assistant, Family Welfare Assistant, Health Assistant, Family Welfare Inspector, Health Inspector etc) who received orientation from BRAC were motivated to combine the EPI and Satellite Clinic facilities with the 5,840 CNCs. Birth weight recording of 85% of all new born was done and special counseling was provided for mothers with children born with low birth weight. Health and nutrition counseling and micro nutrient (iron and foliate) were distributed to 11,856 newly wed women. For nutrition education food supplementation packets were provided to 82,990 (18%) children under two years and 122,741 (48%) pregnant women.



2.8.8(d) Shushastho(BRACHealthCentre):
In 2001, BRAC undertook a few new initiatives. It has upgraded all pathological laboratories in the Shushasthos for proper diagnosis and treatment through joint collaboration Programs with Bangladesh Institute of Research for Diabetics and Endocranial Medicine (BIRDEM) . BRAC has also undertaken a number of steps for prevention of maternal and child mortality in its operational areas. From its own resources, BRAC has upgraded three Shushasthos having provisions for basic and comprehensive EOC facilities. BRAC has upgraded three Shushasthos in three areas in such a way that complicated pregnancy related care from adjacent Shushasthos could be referred to these specialized Shushasthos and the people could avail these services at a low cost. In 2002, BRAC has plans to upgrade four more Shushasthos with comprehensive EOC facilities.

In 2001, a total of 554,458 received care from the Shushasthos for various health problems. A total of 5999 deliveries and 5511 MR were done in 2001. The monthly number of deliveries conducted in 2001 increased from 271 in January to 550 in December. There was a similar increase in MR services also. The total number of laboratory tests done is 158,258. In 2001, average cost recovery from the community through the 90 Shushasthos was around 56%.
CHAPTER-3

ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS
This chapter is divided into three sections. Socio-economic status of the respondents, sector-wise investment of BRAC loans and section is impact on finance. These three sections are discussed below:

3.1 The Socio-economic Status of the Respondents
The socio-economic statuses of the respondents are discussed with the help of the following tables.
TABLE-3.1.1
Age wise Distribution of BRAC loan.
Age Group (in year) No. of Loanees / Respondents Percentage of Loanees / Respondents
20-30
31-40
41-50
51 and above 12
18
13
7 24%
36%
26%
14%
Total 50 100%
Source: Field survey

BRAC provides loan to those who are mentally & physically matured. Moreover, BRAC stresses to the peoples who are energetic, initiative and active but disadvantaged. In Bangladesh, the age limit of maturity is 18 years. The above table represents age wise distribution of BRAC loan. It is seen that , 24% of total loanees whose age lies between 20-30, 36%  whose age lies between 31-40 , 26% and 14 % to total loanees whose age group are 41-50, and 51 and above respectively. The age wise distribution of loan to the respondents shows that large part (36%) of the loanees belonged to the age group ranging from 31-40 years. It is obviously clear that, BRAC provides financial aid to the women who are able to change their present climatic economical position and traditional life style.

TABLE-3.1.2
Inspiration to be a Member of BRAC
Inspiration by Whom
 No. of Loanees / Respondents Percentage of Loanees / Respondents
Husband
BRAC employees
Self Motivated
Neighbors
Others  9
10
17
12
2 18%
20%
34%
24%
4%
Total 50 100%
 Source: Field survey.
Table shows that, 18% of respondents got inspiration from their respective husbands. 20% of respondents got inspiration from BRAC field workers and a major portion (34%) of the total respondent were self-motivated to enter in to BRAC. 24% of respondents also, got inspiration from their respective neighbor who received loan from BRAC and continuing till now. So, it is revealed that, role of self-motivation and neighbors are important to be BRAC members.

TABLE-3.1.3
Experience in regarding of BRAC Loan Taking
Age of experience (year) No. of Loanees Percentage of Loanees
5
6
7
8
9 and above years 16
13
10
6
5 32%
26%
20%
12%
10%
Total 50 100%
Sources: Field Study.
The study has been conducted on women loanees who were engaged with BRAC minimum 5 years. 32% of total respondents have 5 year experience in loan taking from BRAC 26%, 20%, 12% and 10% of total respondents have 6,7,8,9 and above years experience in loan taking.

TABLE-3.1.4
Educational background of BRAC loanees
Level Education  No. Of loanees Percentage of loanees
No. Education
Primary level
Junior high school 25
28
7 50%
36%
14%
Total 50 100%
Sources : Field survey.
           We know that the education is the back bone of a nation. If we think deeply, what is the cause of poverty of third world countries like Bangladesh? The answer will come out that, illiteracy is the main impediment on the way of development.
The collected data from field survey exposes that, 50% of total respondents are fully illiterate i.e. they can not read even sign their name. 36% of the loanees got primary lavel education. Very poor percentage of the respondents (14%) received education at junior high level but no respondent got high school education. From this data it appear that the level of education of BRAC loanees are yet not to be satisfactory. Data shows, moreover, that most of the rural women were unable to change there fortune smoothly because of inadequate educational background.
TABLE-3.1.5
Marital status of BRAC Loanees
Marital Status No. of loanees Percentage of loanees
Married
Widow
Divorce 36
5
9 72%
10%
18%
Total 50 100%
Sources: Field survey.

BRAC delivers loan to the destitute class peoples. The destitute class people may be married, widow, or divorcee. The collected data discloses that 72% of the total respondent was married taken loan from BRAC. 10 % to total loanees were widow.

In death of their husband no body were able to earn in their family. As a result, widow stands at the door of BRAC for taking loan. 18% of their respondents were divorce. The divorcee female face financial crisis in absence of their husband in the male – ruled society.
TABLE-3.1.6
Size of the Family of the Respondents:
Family Member Size No. of Respondents Percentage
1-3
3-5
5-7
7-9
9 and above 2
13
15
11
9 4%
26%
30%
22%
18%
Total 50 100%
Source: Field survey.

       Bangladesh is facing an enormous problem with high rate of population growth, the impact of which is being felt in all sectors of the economy in various dimension and magnitude. The major impediment of poverty alleviation and economic emancipation of the destitute class is the large number of family members. In that case, it is seen that is able to earn but 4 or 5 or 6 members of the family depended on him. As a result, poverty increases with the increase in family member. In the table it shows that 4% of the total loanees whose family members were 3, which is the optimum family size. The reasons behind it may be positive attitude of the respondents towards family planning. 13 respondents who account for 26% of the total loanees whose family members were 3-5. 30%, 22% and 18% of the respondents whose family members were 5-7, 7-9 and 9 and above respectively. It is obvious that the respondents, whose family members were large in size, stood at the door of BRAC for taking loan to increase their income for poverty alleviation.  


6.2 Impact of BRAC Finance:
The impact of financial position of the respondents is discussed with the help of the following tables:
TABLE-3.2.1
Distribution of income Earner Before and after joining BRAC
No. of earner Before After
 No. of loanees Percentage of loanees No. of loanees Percentage of loanees
Only-1
Only-2
Only-3 37
13
0 74%
26%
0% 20
19
11 40%
38%
22%
Total 50 100% 50 100%
Source; Field study.
            It has been disclosed from the field study that maximum family were dependent upon the income earner before joining BRAC. These figures were 74% of the sample loanees. Only 26% to total families were two income earner and no families were 3 earners before joining BRAC. It is revealed from the field study that, some families were more than one income earning number, but they were inactive for lack of capital or working field. It respective of BRAC finance, they found out working field. Consequently, number income earners of family are increased after joining the BRAC. Table shows that 40% of the simple families are one income earner after joining BRAC. That, 34 % of families’ income earners has increased from one to two or three. 38% to total families’ income earners are two and 22% are 3 after taking loans from BRAC while this figure were 26% and 0% respectively before joining the BRAC. So that, it is evident that, income earners has increased in perspective of BRAC loan finance.

TABLE-3.2.2
Educational Level change after joining BRAC.
Level of Education No. of loanees Percentage of loanees
No change
Can sign name only
Can sign and read only 26
16
8 52%
32%
16%
Total 50 100%
Sources: field study.
In rural Bangladesh, especially among the rural women, rate of literacy is low due to a number of contributing factors. With a view to improve this situation, BRAC started its Non Formal Primary Education (NFPE) program giving particular emphasis to the educational needs to the female child. BRAC operates two types school – (a) primary school literacy, where children study between ages  8-14 years  (b) adult literacy , where adolescent female go there only to learn how to sign their name and how to read only.
          Since the study is related to matured loans, so, we exposed only the impact of educatio0nal level change after joining BRAC of the loanees. Table shows that, 52% to total respondents did not change their educational level after joining BRAC. it is observed after field study that, maximum respondents were lower educated before joining BRAC. 32% of total respondents has learnt both how to sign their name only the 16% has learnt both how to read and sign their name only after joining BRAC. They were fully illiterate before joining BRAC member they joint to adult literacy Program.
TABLE-3.2.3
Nature of the Dwelling House and After Joining BRAC.
Nature of the house Before After
 No. of loanees Percentage of loanees No. of loanees Percentage of loanees
No house

House made by straw
House made by tin 6

29

15 12%

58%

30% 0

14

36 0%

28%

72%
Total 50 100% 50 100%
Sources: field study.

BRAC gave the housing loans only to their group members, at the rate of 12% interest per annum, which includes 6% service charge. The loan is redeemable with in three years by weekly installment with compound interest. BRAC estimated 5% of total disbursed loan for housing. It is evident from the field study that, 10% to total loanees before joining BRAC. They used to live in rental house or relative’s house. 58% to total loanees had straw shading house, 30% had tin shading house before joining BRAC. After joining BRAC, the loanees those had no house before joining BRAC are belonged to a house now. 30% of the loanees have made their house by tin those had straw shading house. That means, number of straw shading house has decreased by 30%. 72% to total loanees are possessed of tin shading house. It was 30% before joining BRAC i.e. 42% loanees has been made tin shade house by taking loan. So it is obviously clear that, the impact of BRAC loan in changing the dwelling house of the loanees is significant.

TABLE-3.2.4
Nature of the Latrine before and After Joining BRAC

Nature of latrine Before After
 No. of Loanees Percentage of
Loanees No. of Loanees Percentage of
Loanees
No latrine
Sanitary
Open  10
5
35 20%
10%
70% 0
34
16 0%
68%
32%
Total 50 100% 50 100%
Source: Field Study.

The collected data discloses that, 20% to total loanees had no latrine before taking loan. Only 10% loanees had sanitary latrine of the sample respondent and the remaining 70% to total respondents had open latrine which is unhygienic and pollute the environment. BRAC provides three types of loan , out of these loan for housing , latrine and tubewell is one of a number . The term of sanitary latrine of is one year. The loan for the same is redeemable by weekly installment basis at the rate of 10% interest per annum. It is evident from the field study, that after taking loan from BRAC all the loanee who had no latrine before joining BRAC has come under Sanitation system. After taking loan from BRAC, sanitation system has increased by 68% than that of before joining BRAC. As a result, number of open latrine is decreased by 32% than that of before taking loan from BRAC.

TABLE-3.2.5
Sources of drinking water before and after joining BRAC
Sources of drinking water Before After
 No. of loanees Percentage of loanees No. of loanees Percentage of loanees
Own tube well
Tube well of other
Government tube well
Pond
Well 12
26
5
4
4 24%
52%
10%
8%
8% 33
12
4
0
1 66%
24%
8%
0%
2%
Total 50 100% 50 100%
Source: field survey.

BRAC has been involved in pure water supply program. In order to insure access of safe water for the poor people BRAC provides loan for the establishment of tube well. This loan is being given for one year and is redeemable by weekly installment basis at the rate of 10% interest. It can be seen from the table that, only 24% to total respondents/ loanees had their own tube well. 52% and 10% to total loanees would meet their drinking water demand from the tube well of other and tube well established by the government respectively. Remaining 16% (8%+8%) peoples drink water from pond or well respectively. The above picture of drinking water is before joining BRAC. After joining BRAC this situation has changed rapidly. Collected data reveals that, 66% to total loanees have own tube well i.e. 42% loanees are belonged to a tube well by taking loan from BRAC. On the other hand, number of loanees has decreased who were depended on other tube well or government tube well by 28% and 2% respectively after taking BRAC loan. Table shows that, no body drinks pond water and only 2% respondent’s drink well water after joining BRAC.

TABLE-3.2.6
Other Assets Before and After Joining BRAC
Nature of  other assets Before After
 No. of loanees Percentage of loanees No. of loanees Percentage of loanees
No assets
Cow
Goat
Cow and goat 34
8
4
4 68%
16%
8%
8% 13
25
10
14 26%
50%
20%
28%
Total 50 100% 50 100%
Source: field survey.
It is seen from the table that , major portion of the loanees  were not belongs to any type of assets before joining BRAC loan .only 16% and 8% of total loanees had cow and goat respectively before taking BRAC loan. 8% of the total respondents had cow and goats both before receiving loan from BRAC. Collected data disclosed that, the previous situation has changed dramatically after receiving financial assistance from BRAC. Table shows that, only 26 % of total loanees have no other assets after taking BRAC loan. This number was 68% before joining BRAC i.e. 42% of total respondents acquired various types of other assets. 50%, 20% to total loanees has cow and goat respectively after joining BRAC i.e. this percentage is increased by 34% and 8% respectively after joining BRAC. 28% to total respondents has both cow & goat and after joining BRAC i.e. this figure is increased by 20% than that of before joining BRAC.

TABLE-3.2.7
Family Educational Change after Joining BRAC
Educational Level Members %
No change 7 14
Can sign name only 5 10
Can sign and read only 3 6
Primary going children  26 52
High school going  7 14
College going 2 4
University going  0 0
Total 50 100
In rural areas, education depends on family solvency. Most of them are starving and want to earn by any how only for eating. So the children drop out before going in primary school. But when any new earning sources create and they are free from tension of eating, they spread their views firstly on education. Free primary level education and also cash incentive of government removed all problems.
Since the study is related to BRAC members after joining and before joining we see that 52% change has created in primary going children, 14% changed in high school level but no children has gone in university.
So it is clear that BRAC has created a great role in education sector of family members. To make it more effective various necessary opportunity and steps should be taken.
 
TABLE-3.2.8
Distribution of BRAC loan according to size of income Before and After Joining BRAC
Size of Income
(Per Month)Tk.
 Before After
 No. of
Respondents Percentage No. of  Respondents Percentage
Below 2000
2000-2500
2500-3000
3000-3500
3500-4000
4000-4500
4500 and above 9
23
8
8
0
2
0
 18%
46%
16%
16%
0%
4%
0% 0
1
12
14
9
8
6 0%
2%
24%
28%
18%
18%
12%
Total 50 100% 50 100%
Source: Field Survey.
              Average Income before Joining BRAC is Tk. 2345
              Average Income after Joining BRAC is Tk. 3540.
During the survey periods, information is collected regarding both farming and non-farming income of the sample loanees. It has been observed in course of the survey that the sample loanees have developed serious apathy towards agricultural pursuits, because it has become very uneconomical for them, due to their tiny land holdings, low qualities of agricultural inputs, low production per acre etc. As a result, the small margined and subsistent farmers get attracted to other non-farming income from running family business, sail of labor etc. for poverty alleviation. Obviously, the proper utilization of loan money taken from BRAC is expected to make a positive impact on the income and employment generation of loanees. The interpretations of collected data support this fact. The average income of the sample loanees per month before joining the BRAC was Tk.2345. It can be observed that 64 percent of total loanees belong to an income bracket up to Tk.2500. The income of the sample loanees has undergone significant change after taken loan from BRAC through use of loan money. The average income in post loan situation stand to Tk. 3540, which accounts for a sharp increase 50.96% compared with pre-loan. Post loan situation indicates that the income distribution pattern of the participants experience significant improvement. The table represents that, the highest number of loanees (28%) concentrated in the income bracket between Tk.3000-3500. It also reveals that 2% of the loanees in income group up to Tk. 2500 while 98% belong to income bracket above Tk.2500 compared to pre-pan situation of 64% and 36% respectively. The income scenario reveals acceleration in after loan situation.



TABLE-3.2.9
Size of capital of the loanees:

Capital size  Before After
 No. of loanees Percentage of loanees No. of loanees Percentage of loanees
Tk up to 4000
Tk 4001-8000
Tk 8001- above 29
14
7 58%
28%
14% 5
30
15 10%
60%
30%
Total 50 100% 50 100%
Source: field survey.
Size of capital is very important for efficient and smooth operation and growth of an enterprise. Size of capital indicates the size of business. The table shows that the capital size of 58% of the sample ventures was Tk 4000 of less, only 42% of the sampled ventures capital size was over Tk 4000 before taking loan of BRAC, while after receiving BRAC loan 90% of the sampled ventures size was over Tk 4000. It also shows that the picture of development of women.







3.2.10 Impact at a Glance

Ingredients Positive Negative
Earning power √
Income √
Earning persons √
Capital √
Educated children √
Investment √
Savings √
Self employment √
Expenditure √

Comment on life standard: From the above progress gotten from survey the researcher realize that only 3% to 6% members have pushed into debt for the cause of natural unfavourableness. The living standard is developing because all factors have created a positive impact and a significant role on living standard. The expenditure of one person is the income of others. So, the micro credit Program of BRAC is very much effective for proverty alleviation and self-employment.

   





3.3     Sector-wise Investment of   BRAC Loans:          
a) Processing & Manufacturing 6%
b) Agriculture &  Forestry 28%
 c)  Livestock & Fisheries 36%
 d) Services 8%
e) Trading 6%
f) Peddling 4%
g) Shop  Keeping 4%
h) Not Invested 8%

3.3.1 Processing & manufacturing Includes:
Bamboo works          Garments making      Sugarcane crushing
Repairing works        Furniture making      Clock repairing
Radio repairing         Paddy husking            Sawing
Bread making            Mat making
 Most of the sub-sectors need more capital which can’t be provided by BRAC loan. Moreover the return form the investment cannot get immediately for meet the weekly installment. The field survey show that 6% of the loans invested in this sector. Though this sector is profitable but loanees are not interested due to lengthy return.
 
            3.3.2 Agriculture & forestry Includes:
Plantation                vegetables cultivation        Water melon
Beetle cultivation             Paddy cultivation           Banana cultivation
Rabicrop cultivation  Land   preparation       Pond irrigation
Guava garden   Papaya cultivation    Onion/Potato cultivation
Bangladesh is an agro-based country where agriculture is the main source of our national income. Various agricultural products can provide a great role for repay of loan and also extra income. Loanees take loan form BRAC and use it for fertilizer, seeds, and plough, pump etc. purpose. Some crops can sale into market with in short time and get money immediately. Heavy machinery is not needed for agriculture and forestry. Without the natural distress this is a profitable sector. But flood, storms etc. making our progress delay. For increase income developed technology and strategy need to apply in agriculture sector.

The field survey shows that 14 Members use their loan in agriculture i.e. 28% and the returns are significant.

3.3.3 Livestock &fisheries:
Milkcow                                Cow fattening                         Goat
Poultry raising                         Fishing           Boat for fishing Duck purshing                          Pigeon   raising             Buffalo raising        Apiculture                     Dry fish               Pisciculture

For day to day return livestock is the most significant sector of investment of BRAC loan. Livestock & fisheries are more profitable and helpful for repay of weekly installment. Milk, egg, meat, dry fish are the most favourable and saleable
Ingredients of livestock and fisheries. This sector requires small capital at the primary stage and the investors (loanees) get returns immediately.
From the view of field survey 18 Members out of 50 i.e. 36% invest their loan in livestock and fisheries.                
3.3.4 Services Includes:
Rickshaw                        Barbershop                        Renting of irrigation                             Pump       Newspaper distribution                            Pushcart
Bullockcart        Laundry                             Babi-taxi
Decorators   Van purchasing                           Power pump  
Video camena          
Services depend on human physical strength. Though it requires more primary capital, it provides cash for day to day operation. This sub-sector are limited and sometimes it requires more capital then the loanees get from BRAC.This sector also required skillness, place, manpower etc.
The field survey express that only 8% loanees invest in this sector which is poor than other sector.

3.3.5 Trading Includes:  
Rice                  Pulse         Salt  
Pepper             Vegetable                  Fire wood
Timber            Chicken                                fish  
Cattle              Banana     Onion
Tea                                      Milk
This sector is favorable who are able to taking risk and have a estimation of future. Some times it creates loss which is harmful for loanees and can push in to debt. Most of the loanees are not interested to invest trading sector.  Field survey show only 6% loanees invest in the sector.



3.3.6    Peddling Includes:
Bamboo bucket          Dry fish              Cloth
Bamboo      Grocery   goods                  Stationary goods
Saree              Bangles             Ice cream
Peanut                  Oil      
Peddling is not famous in every remote area. Some times loanees are not interested due to proper instrument. The field survey show only 4% loanees use their loans in peddling.

3.3.7.    Shop  keeping Includes:      
Glossary shop         Stationary shop                 Medicine shop                                            Tea stall                            Iron shop                                        Magazine stall
 Cloth stalls                    Fruits stall                                     Electrical parts                                                                                                                                     Tran making   shop.         Shoe store
 Shop keeping requires more capital beyond BRAC provide to its members. Moreover, it needs place, skilled persons, and appropriate items etc. which are unfavorable for the loanees. They are not intending to invest at shop keeping.      
    The field survey express, only 4% loanees invested their loan in this sector.
   
3.3.8     Non-Investment:
Some family needs micro-grants not micro credit. They are need of food, nutrition, house etc. So they take loan from BRAC and spend where necessary. For weekly payment they involved with other NGOs (such as ASA, BRDB etc.) and after taking loan they repay the weekly installment of others. Day after day they pushed into debt which is harmful for the society. Sometimes, loanees are not able to invest their total loan in any sector. Some portion they invest and some are not. People of remote areas are not able to meet their fundamental needs. So it is not possible to invest total loans in various sector. From my field survey, 8% loanees do not use their loans. However, 25% loans are used to meet personal or family needs and remaining 75% loans are used properly.



CHAPTER-4

PROBLEMS OF BRAC FINANCE:
The study disclosed that, two main parts are involved with BRAC and their problems. BRAC can be considered as the first party and the beneficiaries are second the first party provides various type of assistance to the rural destitute women under the various programs. Those who are involved with BRAC in conducting its various programs are literate and trained on programs. But the second parties take various types of opportunities and benefits to change their traditional life style. They are destitute women neglected mother and unemployed, vulnerable women and other disadvantaged women of the society. It is obvious that, these types of beneficiaries are most illiterate and enclosed by poverty. So, it is our society, the social status and existence of two parties is of the two end of the axis of the pole. To implement the programs, various types of problems are seen owing to difference of social status, position and socio –economic condition of two parties. That is here the past party is the benefit provider and program conductor but literate. On the other hand, second party is the benefit receiver but most illiterate. So in achieving the same mission rural development by both parties, different types of drawbacks may arise. The study represents two types of problems from the view point of party. First, problem faced by the respondent in taking loan. Second, problem faced by the BRAC official’s delivery and recovery of loan.

4.1 Problems faced by the Respondents:
Since, the respondents were most illiterate and the BRAC employs are literate, so, they were to face some problems. Respondents were asked to express their opinion about the major problems they had faced in regarding to loan receiving

TABLE-4.1.1
Major problems faced by the respondents:
Problems No. of loanees Parcentage of loanees
1.  To be a VO,s member
2.  Difficulty in communication
     owing to difference of language
3.  By fortnightly repayment system
4.  Servicing charge is high
5.  Interest rate is high 43
50

39
50
50
27 86%

100%
78%
100%
100%
54%

1.  To be a member:
The rural development program (RDP) of BRAC strives to bring the rural women in to the main stream of development by alleviating their poverty and empowering them through its vital organ, i.e. village organization (VO). Presently, a VO comprising of 35-55 members are formed with the females from the same village. Each loanee have to join in VO, they can apply for loan subject to attending 8 weekly VO’s meting. Moreover, to form a VO numbering 35-55 is tough primarily. Table shows that, 86% to total respondents were faced of this problem. They thought VO should be formed with less numbering members than that of estimated present.

2. Difficulty in communication owing to difference of language:
The beneficiaries from BRAC are most illiterate. They are encompassed with local culture and speak in local dialect. So difficulties come in sight in communicating between loanees and field workers owing to difference of language. Table shows that 100% of respondents suffer from this short coming.

3. By fortnightly Repayment system:
Loan taken by the beneficiaries are to be paid by – fortnightly installment basis with interest. Often, loanees fail to repay Taka of installment due to their lack of earning, natural climate and any other reasonable variables. Table shows that, 78% of total respondents were faced this problem. They through that, the lag time of installment are necessary to be one month.

4. Rate of service Charge is high:
Every loanee is charged @5% service charge against per decimal land. This charge cut on sources. But service charge cut by the BRAC on source is treated as loan finance and have to repay again with interest on it. That is, since, the amounts of servicing charge cut on source, so they can not utilize this amount but have to repay with interest on it.

5. Existing Socio-cultural Problem;
A bad concept is prevailing in our society about NGOs activities. Still now, most people contain this misconception . They think that NGOs are involved in endeavor action. So, nobody should be involved in NGOs programmme they think. Table shows that, 54% of total respondents suffer from such type of problem.

4.2  Problems faced by the BRAC officials
The employees of BRAC work at grass- roots level. After providing loan to theirs members, they collect the amount of installment going to their member’s house. In addition to, they provide direct service about the loan utilization. Since, loanees are most illiterate and encompassed with their local culture, so, employees are to encounter of various types of problem. The major problems faced by the employees are as follows.

1. Problem in regarding Communication:
The field workers are literate and hail from various districts. So, it is usual not to familiar with other local culture as well as local dialect. Because of illiteracy, rural destitute women being up their local culture and speak in local dialect, which is cumbersome in communicating between field workers and loanees. As a result, they does not discuss with beneficiaries frequently.

2. Inferior status in Society:
There is a miss- conception about NGOs activities in our society The reason behind of this is the ignorance about NGOs activities. As a result, the field workers, especially female are to face different types of question, some of these are besides of the mark of BRAC programs. In case of female workers, social impediment stands as the key note problem. People do not look at good eyes to them.

3. Loans don’t use for own –self:
Some loanees provide the amount of loan to other which has taken in the name of her own –self. In that case, the employees fall in chaotic situation in the time of loan recovery. Since, the loanees are not user loan, so, she to depend on that person whom he has given the amount of loan. As a result, some times field workers fail to recover of loan money in due date.

4. Loan use in other sector:
Some loanee  use the amount of loan in other sector not using for which sector they have taken loan from BRAC.As a result, the employees are to fail in intricate situation in the time of loan recovery.
5. Distressed Area:
Nature climate is the regular inmate of our social life. In addition to, because of nature climate, brittle roads, low land area it is difficult to communicate with loanees’ .Some times, they are to walk on foot a long range path.
6. Direct Discussion with loanee:
Maximum members of BRAC, about more then 97% are women.  But the maximum field workers are male. Because of social culture and religious barrier, the male employees can not discuss with female loanees directly in the time of service providing. Similarly they face same kinds of problems during the time of loan recovery.
.




CHAPTER-5


CONCLUSION   AND RECMMENDATIONS

5.1 Summary of the study
The study has illustrated how rural poor women of Bangladesh faced  with  acute poverty situation , abandoned some of the social norms often against sever opposition from the village elite and participated in various income generating activities to come out the vicious circle of poverty. Especially here, it is exposed the impact of BRAC financing for Micro Credit Programs for empowerment in Rural Women.

In rural Bangladesh the traditional role of women is to stay at home and look after children and house work according to their social standing and financial ability. But when misfortune strikes, they become utterly helpless, especially when they have no rich relatives to look for help. They have to do all kinds of odd jobs just to keep alive, the children become undernourished and they are put to work at an early age to augment their major income. In other words, they lead a hand- to mouth life, just short of begging.

BRAC has had more than 31 years of experience in running rural development programs in Bangladesh. It has had some notable achievements particularly in primary health care, non-formal primary education, income and employment generation and credit assistance to the rural women. BRAC activities have shown to yield positive impact for the beneficiaries. This positive impact has been for both incomes had non-income indicators of household welfare. BRAC activities help the rural women in changing their previous traditional life style. Now group members of BRAC earn more money for their families and income capacity make a dramatic change in their life style. Credit program of BRAC provides group members with loan. They established many income generating projects. Their living standard is increasing day-by-day.
Although one of the stated objectives of the government is rural development in the country, its effort is limited because of resources constraints. Under these circumstances, several non-governmental organizations (NGOs), of which BRAC is one, have come forward to complement government’s endeavor in assisting especially the women who are the most disadvantaged segment of the rural society.  BRAC’s philosophy is based on the conviction that women themselves, if provided with appropriate tool, can bring   about changes towards their empowerment on this premise, BRAC provides training to female in rural oriented income generating activities and more importantly, it also grants non-collateral credit to the women who have no access to formal credit due to their vulnerability. Such credit program encourages the shift from wage employment to self employment (Mahmud & Hamid ,1990).
It is evidenced from the study that one source of income alone is not often sufficient to sustain the family and, therefore, the women have to be engaged in more than income generating activities.
The study adequately reveals that credit and training that are taking provided by BRAC do have significant impact on the disadvantaged Women in the rural areas, but up to a point.




After analyzing the impact of micro on women credit created by BRAC it can obviously say that:
• Helped raising income of the family there by raising status of the women;
• Created self employment opportunities for women;
• Helped establishing women’s control on income and asset of  the family;
• Helped women to enhance their own standard of living;
• Accorded power to and greater control over family decision making.

5.2 Recommendations:
In light of various types of problem mentioned in previous chapter , faced by the loanees and BRAC officials and keeping in view the result of the study , finding and observation the following recommendations: may be put forward for favorable and positive consideration of the authority concerned,

1. A village organization can be comprised of 20 members. More than one VO may be formed in the same village.
2. To remove the difficulty in communication owing to difference of language, a special program may be arrange on local dialect and culture for the employs but not for the beneficiaries.
3. It may be considered whether the lag time of installment increased to a month.
4. Since, 100% respondents, of the sample raised an allegation about service charge may be decreased and interest on it may be deleted.
5. Since, it is evident that, interest rate is higher than that of other banking institution, so the rate of interest may be decreased to promote the loan disbursement trend.
6. To remove the existing socio- cultural problems, mass publicity is required demonstrating NGO’s program in the field poverty alleviation.
7. For natural distress (such as flood, storm, other mishaps etc.) extra long term loan can provide immediately.
8. A strategy can introduce where local leaders will participate with the “Development Committee” implemented by BRAC.
9. Investigation about proper investment is needed.
10. Reward can provide for the active member and efficient BRAC officers.
In spite of various types of drawbacks BRAC’s rural development programmmes has given the destitute rural women a vision of what is achievable through individual and initial resources for investment to improve their lot and above all, their self-esteem.

Finally, I think that BRAC`s microfinance has the potential to have a powerful impact on women’s empowerment. Although microfinance is not always empowering for all women, most women do experience some degree of empowerment as a result. Empowerment is a complex process of change that is experienced by all individuals somewhat differently. Women need, want, and profit from credit and other financial services. Strengthening women’s financial base and economic contribution to their families and communities plays a role in empowering them.

 In some cases, access to credit may be the only input needed to start women on the road to empowerment. But power is deeply rooted in our social systems and values. It permeates all aspects of our lives from our family to our communities, from our personal dreams and aspirations to our economic opportunities. It is unlikely that any one intervention such as the provision of credit or the provision of training will completely alter power and gender relations. Women often value the non-economic benefits of a group-lending program as much as or more than the credit. Some of the most valued benefits include expanded business and social networks, improved self-esteem, increased household decision-making power, and increased respect and prestige from both male and female relatives and community members.

 Targeting women continues to be important in the design of products and services, both because women by default have less access to credit and because they face constraints unique to their gender. Product design and program planning should take women’s needs and assets into account. By building an awareness of the potential impacts of their programs, BRAC can design products, services, and service delivery mechanisms that mitigate negative impacts and enhance positive ones. Even when products and services target primarily women, women still face considerable disadvantages relative to men because of more limited business networks and opportunities, greater domestic burden, weaker self-confidence, less education, and, in many cases, a restrictive legal environment. These disadvantages can sometimes be perpetuated in microfinance programs, with men dominating mixed lending groups and women receiving smaller loan amounts than men.

 As Wariara Mbugua of UNFPA says, “No longer can this strategy be reduced to simple income-generating activities through revolving funds, but rather it entails and includes other elements of empowerment such as leadership, self-management, networking and entrepreneurship.” By adopting a holistic approach that takes into account cultural, economic, and political factors affecting women’s empowerment, BRAC can ensure that women are more deeply and consistently empowered through their programs.




















BIBLIOGRAPHY
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Questionnaire for the Respondents.


1. Name of the Respondent :
2. Age :
3. Educational qualification ;
4. Have increased your education after joining BS? Yes, No,
If yes, How much?
5.  Occupation :  Before-   After-
6. Marital status : Married / Unmarried / Widow / Divorcee
7. Father ‘s  / Husband’s / Wife’s  Occupation :
8. No. of Children: …………………..
9. Nature of the family :  Joint   Separate
10. Family members: ………


1. Description of Assets
Particulars Before After
1. Land Decimal Decimal
2.  Nature of  dwelling house
3.  Nature of Latrine  
4.  Sources of drinking water Own tube well/ tube well of other / Govt. tube well / pond / other Own tube well/ tube well of other / Govt. tube well / pond / other
5.  Other assets Cow / Goat /Buffalo / Sheep / Riksha / Van Cow / Goat /Buffalo / Sheep / Riksha / Van

2.  Capital :
Before:   Tk-
At present: Tk-
3. Who have inspired you for joining BS?
4. Uses of loan
5. Income earners:   Before :   After:
6. Income (monthly): Before:   After:
7. Expenditure (monthly): Before    After
8. Cost of taking loan :
9. Time spend for taking loan (days):
10. You face what are the problems for taking loan?
a)
b)
c)
d)
11. What are your suggestions to solve the above problems?
12. Would you pay the amount of loan regular /
Yes / No / Occasionally
If you fail to repay regularly then what is the cause?
13. What is the system for the payment of the loan?
14.   Have you joined in any training program? If no, do you think that training is required? Yes / No

15. Remarks:

Questionnaire for the BS Officials:


1. Name :
2. Designation :
3. Age :
4. Educational  qualification  :
5. Service experience  :
6. Marital status  : Married / Unmarried
7. Religion : Muslim / Hindus / Buddhist / Christian / Other
8. Causes for joining in present job :
9. Residence : a) BS quarter b ) Own quarter c) Rental quarter
10. Gross salary :

1. Types of loan :
2. Who are eligible for loan?
a) b)
c)                d)
3. Procedure for sanctioning loan :
4. Disbursement procedure of loan :
5   Particulars of loan from 2000-2004
Year Sanction
 (Tk-) Disbursement (Tk-) Recovery
(Tk-) Outstanding
(Tk-)
2000  
2001  
2002  
2003  
2004  

6.  No of members: 2000  2001  2002  2003        2004
7. No of loanee  : 2000  2001  2002  2003  2004

8. Reasons for default :
a) b)
c)            d)
9. System of recovery for overdue :
10. Problems of recovery of loans :
11. Remarks:



Some Abbreviations Which Has Used
BRAC: Bangladesh rural Advancement Committee
NGOs   : Non-Government Organizations
FFYP: Fifth Five Year Plan
VO     : Village Organization
RDP   : Rural Development Program
HRLE: Human Rights & Legal Education
ASF: Acid Survivors Foundation
ASK: Aino Shalish Kendra
MELA: Micro Enterprise Lending Assistance
AEW: Agriculture Extension Workers
WFP: World Food Program
BRRI: Bangladesh Rich Research Institutes
BINA: Bangladesh institute For Nuclear Agency
IGVGD: Income Generation Vulnerable Group Development
REP: Rural Enterprise Project
NEER: Non-farm Enterprise Extension and Reinforcement
RRP    : Relief and Rehabilitation Program
NFPE: Non-formal Primary Education
ESP     : Education Support Program
WHDP: Women’s Health and Development Program
MOU   : Memorandum of Understanding
BINP   : Bangladesh Integrated Nutrition Project
CNC    : Community Nutrition Centers
BIRDEM: Bangladesh Institute of Research for Diabetics and Endocrinal Medicine
ASA    : Association for Social Advancement
BRDB: Bangladesh Rural Development Board
RDP   : Rural Development Program