Breaking the barrier of poverty

China Begum feeding her chicken at house. She changed her lot by rearing poultry birds. PHOTO: STAR

China was a daughter of a day labourer of Panchapukur union under Sadar upazila. At tender age when she was supposed to go to school with books in hand, she began to sell labour at the houses of rich people in her locality in exchange for nominal price. Her father took her to be his burden. So, at the age of only 12 years she got her married with a rickshaw puller named Anwarul of a neighbouring village who was double her age. Anwarul had to deposit Tk 15 to his rickshaw owner. From the beginning of her marriage China had to remain halffed most of the days. Anwarul began to torture her for dowry from day one of their marriage. Her woes multiplied when she became mother of two children. At this stage life came to a standstill. She even thought of committing suicide when she was unable to feed her babies.

When she was passing such a miserable life all on a sudden a 'miracle' happened.

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It was just two years ago. A group of people visited their locality who said to her that they came from BRAC. They had come to help the ultra-poor in their village. They enlisted China's name and names of other poor people there. They also got information of their land, domestic animals and poultry birds which they possessed.

After a few days the lady officers of BRAC visited them. They asked China and other poor people so many questions. When the lady officers came to know about their poverty, they asked them whether they had any loan or not with anybody. They replied to negative. At this stage the visitors proposed them that they would supply with poultry birds to rear in cages.

From that day China and her fellow villagers came to know that they were brought under the CFPPTUP (Challenging the Frontiers of Poverty Reduction Targeting the Ultra-poor) Project of BRAC. A week later they were given training for three days a week. During training period China got Tk 30 every day as training allowance. Afterwards, she used to receive Tk 10 as allowance every day for 18 months.

On conclusion of the training China got 36 hi-breed chicken aged two months. She regularly brought poultry feed from the Nilphamari office of BRAC. After three months each and every chicken started laying eggs. From then on her dream turns into reality. Every day she got 20 to 36 eggs. She got Tk 500 to 700 each week on average out of the eggs. From then on she bought poultry feed on payment of Tk 360 every week. She deposited Tk 20 to 30 as savings. She began to earn at least Tk 100 to 300 every week. She bought a new rickshaw for her husband at a cost of Tk 3,500.

She started rearing her two children in a proper manner. She supplied them good food and good dress. Not only that she got her children admitted in schools also.

Now most frequently journalists, elite and BRAC personnel visit her to observe her success in life for whom she bought table and chairs also.

China further told this correspondent that she won't have to repay the money which she got from BRAC.

At present many others in Singdoi area like China such as Motahara, Jotsna have become self-reliant in life being economically sound.

About 70,000 families of seven villegs will be brought under the programme by the year 2006, revealed BRAC officials to this correspondent.