http://rulrepository.ru.ac.bd/handle/123456789/214 Sat, 04 Apr 2026 10:08:45 GMT 2026-04-04T10:08:45Z http://rulrepository.ru.ac.bd/handle/123456789/608 Efficacy of Holistic Approach to Rural Development in Bangladesh: A Study of Comprehensive Village Development Programme (CVDP) Mazumder, Md. Akhtar Hossain Rural development is an organized activity which has been admired throughout the world for more than half a century. Bangladesh is a land of village communities; hence rural development has been a great priority here. In post-colonial period, Bangladesh has experienced many programmes along with various approaches dedicated for the improvement of the life and livelihood of rural people. Among them some are national innovations and some are diffusion from international experiments. But, unfortunately most of the rural people are yet very disadvantaged and living below poverty level. During the 1970s and onward of the last century, a global trend of making development effort more holistic was observed. ‘Holistic’ is a generic term having broader outlook that considers all aspects of development and includes all segments of people related to development activities. Various comparable terms such as integrated or sustainable or comprehensive approach etc. have been being used to refer to this idea. Comprehensive Village Development Programme (CVDP) is one such programme that claims to be holistic in approach. CVDP is based on an approach to rural development that integrates many other approaches such as the cooperative approach, integrated rural development approach, community development approach, participatory approach, sustainable livelihood approach etc., not haphazardly or unsystematically but in a very levelheaded and sensible manner. CVDP does not develop any artificial organization; rather it utilizes the village community, which is actually a natural entity. The programme endeavors to get the most out of the existing social bondage, which is known as social capital. This programme claims that it has the potentiality to be sustainable and effective for rural development in Bangladesh. The present study was conducted to know about the impact of the Comprehensive Village Development Programme and thereby assess the efficacy of the holistic approach to rural development in Bangladesh. A number of 210 respondents from the members of CVDP were selected from different areas of Bangladesh using a multi-stage sampling technique. Opinion of 30 officials and field staffs of the study area was also taken for this purpose. Data were collected through face to face interview and were analyzed and presented using tables, graphs and relevant statistical techniques. From the study it is found that the overall socio-economic conditions of the members of CVDP are good in Bangladesh. It is mentionable that the respondents of Comilla, Kushtia, Sylhet are slightly in better position compared to those in Gaibanda in terms of their socio-economic condition. The present study indicates that the members of CVDP are better in terms of age, occupation, marital status, monthly income, family size and family maintenance. On the basis of the present study, it is suggested that, necessary policy should be undertaken to expand the CVDP in all part of Bangladesh to uplift the socio-economic condition of the people. This study was conducted to verify the efficacy of CVDP as holistic approach. In order to verify the efficacy of CVDP as a holistic approach, I analyzed this programme from three perspectives such as a) basic needs fulfillment; b) organizational efficacy; and c) social efficacy. Findings indicate that most of the respondents were able to meet their basic needs such as food (85.71 percent), clothing (90.48 percent), treatment (89.52 percent), shelter (77.62 percent) moderately before joining the CVDP. After joining CVDP, they became capable to fulfill their basic needs such as food (91.90 percent), clothing (92.86 percent), treatment (90.48 percent) and shelter (81.43 percent) in a better way. CVDP was found, by and large, to be administratively efficient and viable. The study explored that transparency in fund management system was of high-quality with very few exceptions. Information regarding fund was disseminated regularly to the members and they were found to be satisfied in this regard. It is also found that the decision making process of CVDP is participatory in nature. The social efficacy of CVDP was found to be very satisfactory in this study. Especially positive role of CVDP in dispute resolution at village-level highly satisfies (73.33 percent) the villagers. After CVDP intervention, trend of court settlement reduced in a mentionable level (78.57 percent). It was also found that mutual cooperation in problem situation and fellow feeling atmosphere has been increased (87.62 percent) in CVDP areas. In the CVDP villages, level of empowerment of women were also found to have increased in terms of their participation in the family decision making process (54.05 percent), income generating activities (61.90 percent) and in socio-political activities (53.33 percent). In present study it is observed that people are for the most part satisfied with this Comprehensive Village Development Programme. They have extended their expectations from this programme. Based on earlier experiences, they are at the same time skeptical about its continuation and smooth running. There was spatial variation in performance of this programme. It is perceived from the study that success of any programme depends on the internal components of the programme as well as on the images of the persons involved as operators. This thesis is Submitted to the Department of Social Work, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh for The Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://rulrepository.ru.ac.bd/handle/123456789/608 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z http://rulrepository.ru.ac.bd/handle/123456789/560 Role of Grameen Bank in Poverty Reduction: A Study on Santhia Upazilla Chowdhury, Md. Oliul Islam The present study is designed to make a broad analysis of the nature and dimensions of rural poverty in Bangladesh and examine the features and efficacy of poverty reduction activities of Grameen Bank by an in-depth assessment. The reduction of mass poverty has been the primary goal of all development plans. But poverty remains an intractable problem. The persistence of poverty in the country is reflected in low per capita income, unequal distribution of national incomes, high population growth, frequent natural calamity, increasing landlessness, worsening employment and declining rural wages. Nevertheless, no disagreement that the formulation of an appropriate strategy for poverty reduction remains the most fundamental development challenges for Bangladesh. Poverty is a relative and multidimensional term, some give emphasis on the lack of certain basic capabilities while some consider the different aspects of human deprivations. However, in defining poverty one common concept comes forward, and that is, poverty is said to exist in a given society when one or more persons do not attain a level of material well-being deemed to constitute a reasonable minimum by the standards of the society. 1 A report reveals that 44.33 percent (based on direct caloric intake) people of Bangladesh are absolute poor where the percentage of rural and urban absolute poor is 42.28 and 52.50 respectively. The report further shows 19.98 percent is hardcore poor in national level where rural and urban hardcore poor is 18. 72 percent and 25.02 percent respectively.2 In conformity with Human Development Report (HDR)3 2004 published by United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the position of Bangladesh is 138 out of 177. According to World Development Indicator 2003, 36.0 percent people of Bangladesh earns less than I US$ a day.4 Accordi11g to Fifth Five Year Plan,5 Poverty line-I is defined as daily intake of 2122 K.Cal per person and poverty line-II which is extreme poverty is defined as daily consumption of 1805 K.Cal per person. In fact, both kinds of poverty impede the normal activities of people and snatch away peace as well as happiness and therefore poverty should be rooted out from the society. From this view, many programs have been taken by different government and non-government organizations. The Grameen Bank founded by Professor Muhammed Yunus in I 976, was initiated as an action research project to test the hypothesis that, "if financial resources are made available to the poor at reasonable terms and condition, they can generate productive self-employment without any external assistance.6 From I 983, Grameen Bank, a well-known and pioneering non-government Organization, is playing a vital role in the field of poverty reduction activities of Bangladesh…………………………………………… This thesis is Submitted to the Department of Social Work, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh for The Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT http://rulrepository.ru.ac.bd/handle/123456789/560 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z http://rulrepository.ru.ac.bd/handle/123456789/484 Problems of Working Mothers in Socializing Children: A Study on Rajshahi Metropolitan City Mamun, Syeda Afreena Traditionally, responsibility of housekeeping and child raring solely remain with the women in Bangladesh society. Nowadays, as increasing number of women are involving in earning activities outside home; this has become extremely difficult for them. This is mainly because of the fact that men in Bangladesh society hardly involve in responsibilities of housekeeping and child raring. In fact, engagement in activities outside home is an additional new role for the Bangladeshi women as the responsibilities of housekeeping and child raring still remain solely with them. Proper child raring is extremely crucial as children are the future citizen of any country. Socialization is an important aspect of child development through which a child turns as a social being. The integrity of the society much depends on the proper socialization of children. Although there are agents of socialization family, exclusively mother, is the key among ail. Hence, if mother fails to perform her duty, proper socialization may be hampered. This is not expected at all. As already mentioned women in Bangladesh society increasingly taking part in work outside home and men are hardly look after house and children how far the working women are able to play their role in the socialization process of children has become a prime issue. Particularly important is what are the problems faced by the working mothers in socializing their children. The present study focuses on this issue of problems working mother in socialization of their children. For the purpose, data were collected through face to face interview from the working mothers (both upper class and lower class) of a metropolitan city named Rajshahi of Bangladesh. It is evident from the study findings that the working mothers have faced problems in their household activities like feeding, cooking, cleaning, bedding and shopping. It is also evident that the working mothers have greatly faced problems in socialization of their children. The problems are more prevalent among the upper class working mothers compared to lower class working mothers. In the absence of institutionalized socialization provisions, such as day care centers, upper class working mothers mostly depend on maid servant to look after their children while they are in work outside home. So the children of the upper class working mother become accustomed with the habits of maid servant. Especially the language skills, appreciation of the other's role, loyalty to the senior are being severely influenced by the maid servant in the absence of mother. Based on the findings it may be recommended that child care facilities like day care center, child home, nursery etc. should be established and leave of the working mothers such maternity leave, casual leave, children's rearing leave should be increased to ensure proper socialization of the working mothers to fulfill and minimize their needs. This thesis is Submitted to the Department of Social Work, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh for The Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://rulrepository.ru.ac.bd/handle/123456789/484 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z http://rulrepository.ru.ac.bd/handle/123456789/474 Impact of Old Age Allowance on Elderly Welfare in Rural Bangladesh: A Study of Godagari Upazilla in Rajshahi District Choudhary, Md. Shahidur Rahman Old age is the terminating stage of human life cycle. It is a natural phenomenon and none can avoid it if there occurs no premature death. Old age is normally characterized by some degenerative symptoms and downhill conditions of life. In Bangladesh, aged people are facing various unexpected sufferings, which are mainly due to poverty and health related complications. Considering the pitiful financial conditions of aged, the government of Bangladesh launched a new social security program named 'bayaska bhata' (allowance for the aged) from 1997, under which 10 of the poorest and most vulnerable old persons (five men and five women) of each Ward (unit of a union council) are given a monthly allowance of Tk. 100 each to help the aged persons settle on a smooth social and economic life track. The present study aims at assessing the impact of old age allowance on elderly welfare in rural Bangladesh. This research is evaluative in nature. Data were collected from 344 (22% of total receivers) beneficiaries using simple random sampling from Godagari Upazilla of Rajshahi district, Bangladesh to assess the conditions of rural old age allowance receivers. Face-to-face interview was administered with a structured questionnaire to rural old age allowance receivers to draw empirical data. Descriptive analyses of data using various statistical tools were made to trace out the impact of old age allowance. Social Survey was conducted to collect primary data and case study method was used to go deep into the problem and two focus group discussions were made to evaluate the impact of old age allowance (OAA). The results show that the mean age of the respondents is 71.42 years with a range of a minimum of 50 years and a maximum of 120 years. The results also portray that about 2.33% of the study respondents are receiving OAA, breaking the rules of the minimum age of eligibility of receiving OAA. More than sixty percent of the aged are illiterate. A little more than half of the respondents are living jointly with other family members. Most of the male respondents are engaged as day laborer and females are housewives. About 90% of the respondent’s arc suffering from some kind of health related complications. The study brings to light that OAA helps them to meet their basic needs such as food, clothing and medicine etc. on their own. In Bangladesh society, normally, aged persons are treated as a burden to family and society if they do not have sufficient income. Although OAA gives a very scanty amount, it exerted a positive impact on the social life of the aged persons especially in resorting and improving familial relation with son, daughter other relatives and neighbors. It helped aged persons to be grounded on a better position and in becoming a respected person in the society. The small amount of old age allowance exerts little economic impact on the aged people. But the social impact of this allowance is very significant. The aged people have accepted this program positively. The study shows that the amount of the allowance is not sufficient and the beneficiaries are very unhappy with the small amount. The beneficiaries suggest for scaling up the amount so that they can invest it in income generating activities. In getting OAA, about 60% of the respondents faced multidimensional problems. More than 30% of the respondents reported that they had to pay some money in getting the allowance. About 20% of them reported that they did not get the allowance timely. Though the old age allowance is not significant economically, socially it bears great significance. If the policy of OAA program is implemented effectively, the amount of money received as allowance is increased and if aged persons invest it in familial income generating activities then the OAA program can be significant from both of the social and economic point of view. The government should take necessary steps to make the OAA program effective and fruitful through various initiatives. This thesis is Submitted to the Department of Social Work, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh for The Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://rulrepository.ru.ac.bd/handle/123456789/474 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z