To demonstrate interventions taken up by South Asia Regional Office and the impact of our work we are regularly tracking the case story of “Esar Uddin and his family”. This family has been recently identified as clients by a SARO supported programme.

LCD-SARO has partnered with Centre for Disability in Development (CDD), a disability organisation in Bangladesh, to implement a programme on Inclusive Education and Employment Rights of Persons with Disabilities. CDD has chosen local partners to support them in implementation of this programme; one among them is Gono Unnayan Sangstha (GUK), a community development organisation working in remote, backward and disaster prone areas of Gaibandha district.

As part of this segment we have been tracking the life of Esaruddin from Bangladesh for the last four issues. Esaruddin moved to village Pulbandhi of the Sadar Upazilla of Gaibandha district after losing their household to floods. SARO in partnership with Centre for Disability and Development (CDD) a disability organisation in Bangladesh implements programmes on Inclusive Education and Employment Rights of persons with disabilities in partnership with other organisations like Gono Unnayan Kendra (GUK). Esaruddin and his wife Mini Begum have three children. Their elder daughter Ranu has intellectual disability and second daughter Laboni has visual impairment. Ranu was trained in activities of self care and basic education concepts and Laboni was given mobility training and pre – school training. 

Present Condition: The partner organisation GUK under CF project having trained and prepared Laboni for school helped her get admission in Madhyapara Government Primary School. Initially due to poor financial condition of the family Laboni almost had to stop attending school Project intervened and started supporting the family for her transportation expenses. With the project's intervention now Laboni receives a stipend of 220 taka which covers her transportation expenses. She is doing really well in the school. Her teachers and Principal are very happy with her progress. She is one of the most disciplined and diligent students in her class. Laboni continues to receive training in Braille and mobility orientation and her skills are improving day by day in using the cane. Laboni's interest in studies, positive response from her family, and cordial cooperation from the teachers and the staffs of GUK helped her to achieve an excellent result in the 1st grade and she was successfully promoted to 2nd grade. In the first terminal exam in the 2nd grade also she scored very high marks. She is a star athlete in her school. Her favorite games are 50 mtr sprint and pot breaking competition. Now everyone is overwhelmed at her success and admire her greatly. Laboni, herself, is very happy and expects a better result in the final exam. She loves to help her mother in the household chores.

Ranu has come a long way too. From being chained to a free responsible young girl she has picked up lot of skills from the GUK staff. The neighbors who used to ignore her for her attitude and bad behavior started liking her and accepting her. She turned out to be a complete family girl. Last October she was suddenly married. Her father confessed that due to poverty and her condition he was left with no choice. As reported in the previous news letter Ranu used to get teased by a community member. When the parents got a good offer for her wedding they decided to go for it. Ranu seems to have adjusted very well in her new home and lives happily with her in laws.  Everyone loves and cooperates with her. Her husband has a mild mobility problem due to Polio. His financial condition is not very good. He is a sharecropper and sometimes remains jobless. 

GUK is now planning to include Rubel Mia, Ranu's husband, in development activities.  Ranu is now happy and cheerful with her husband and regularly visits to her parents. GUK presented a large steel chest to the couple as a wedding gift. 

Esaruddin continues to run his cycle repair shop and earns about 80-90 taka per day. He is pleased Ranu's wedding Laboni's performance in the school. His has started taking more interest in Laboni's achievements. 

Mini Begum continues to be a diligent mother to her daughters and is very happy with the positive changes in their lives. She is a very strong member of the Self Help Group and participates in income generating activities. The Group provided her with a loan and a cow as donation. She works as a laborer in the “Monga Reduction Project” at Gaibandha and is paid 2.5 Kg rice and 37.50 taka per day. She also serves as a maid in the neighboring households during off season. She actively participates in the SHG meetings and other disability and development activities regularly. She envisages improving the state of her daughters even at the cost of her own sufferings.

Though we will be covering a different story from a different location in the next news letter we are committed to continue supporting the family as far as possible to ensure good change in the living conditions of Esaruddin and his family.

Contributed by: Project Manager, CDD