Youths and their Capacity Building in Gender Perspective : Study of an Upazila in Northern Bangladesh

Abstract

The dissertation is the outcome of a field level study, titled "Youths and Their Capacity Building in Gender Perspective: Study of an Upazila in Northern Bangladesh. One Governmental Organisation (GO), namely, DYD and two Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), namely TMSS, BRAC, which are working in the Khetlal. upazila of Joypurhat district, have been chosen as sample organizations for making comparison. The GO and NGOs are considered as two groups, and study has been made to as two groups and it has compared the constraints and potentials of their distribution of micro credit and capacity building training and other supporting services. One hundred and sixty disadvantaged youths, who received loan (80 youths from each group), are the respondents of this study. The study reveals some basic information regarding receiving of micro-credit and its usage. Among the 160 sample youths, only 33 percent (52 Youths) is fully and 20 percent is partially continuing with their trades. Remaining 47 percent has handed over their loaned money mostly to their fathers/husbands. However, in 88 percent cases, the loaned money is rotating in productive sectors and 8 percent in non-productive sectors (bought fixed assets or spent money in other purposes). So far the cumulative figures of loan received by the clienteles of GO is TK. 31,340 and those of NGOs is TK. 32,200 in average. Average monthly profit is Tk. 420.53 and Tk. 433.30 of the clienteles of GO and NGOs respectively. A substantial part of women are receiving loan from more than organizations by submitting fake statement; among them only 2.9 youth have confessed. The GO is taking interest at the rate of 5 percent per year, where rate of interest of NGOs is higher; 12.50 percent for TMSS and 15 percent for BRAC. A very insignificant numbers of Youths (15) of NGOs have got trade training, where the figure of GO is 80 youths. Among all of them 75 youths are using the knowledge in their present occupation. Their physical development is remarkable and the clienteles of NGOs are in a better position in this regard. After repayment of loan the per capita amount of savings are Tk. 11,147.20 and Tk. 16,298.87 for the clienteles of GO and NGOs respectively. About 90 percent youths have taken some step for crisis management (built houses, bought pieces of land, saved money, bought other permanent assets). Though the clienteles of NGOs are comparatively advanced in various aspects of mental development, that of clienteles of GO are somehow satisfactory. Socio-Economic disparity exists between men and women in our society. The study is not out of this situation. The GO and NGOs are trying to reduce gender disparity through their programmes. The GO is operating various types of programmes in upazila level, among them trade training and micro-credit distribution is a small component. On the other hand, the prime objective of the NGOs is micro-credit distribution and awareness building of the youths, mainly of the women youths. Therefore the NGOs are devoted solely in their works. Besides, their number of field level workers (FLWS) is also three times higher than that of GO. Moreover, hire and fire policy in employment of all the officials, strict rules of performing day to day work and supervision, and compulsory residing system in the office houses/premises for the FLWS (except those FLWs who are married and living with spouses) have made the services of NG Os better than that of GO. Another related matter deserves topmost priority for the GO that are increment of fund, and appropriate and rapid decision making. However, lack of proper supervision and negligence of the FLWs of GO make its programmes ineffective to a great extent. Eventually the recovery rate of NGOs is far better than that of GO. The NGOs have given adequate emphasis on the awareness and capacity building of loans youth mainly of the women youths, which is much greater than that of GO. Notwithstanding, the clienteles of GO feel more secured in monetary transaction with the GO than with the NGOs as the Government of Bangladesh ensures it. However, both GO and NGOs are still reluctant of the promotion and marketing of the products of their clienteles, which have jeopardized self-employment programme. The disadvantaged youths of Bangladesh are very much neglected and exploited segment from a long ago. The micro-credit and awareness building programmes of GO and NGOs has changed their situation, albeit slightly and slowly. Nowadays, they are enjoying the zest of identity of individuality by the help of micro credit, therefore, it is immaterial to them whether GO or NGOs are providing the same. Hence, the GO have a solemn responsibility to improve their service in this regard as far as possible.