They earn a living when others of their age group attend schools

Four poor girls working at a soap manufacturing factory in Patuakhali Sadar upazila. Poverty has compelled them to earn a living by leaving schools at tender age. PHOTO: STAR

Nilufa, Shirin, Rahela, Afroza and Marufa, all aged between 12 to 15 of Morishbunia village in Patuakhali Sadar upazila are a few of such girls. Shirin is their team leader. Each of them earn Tk 800-1,000 per month by making soap. But they are not complacent because they are being deprived of education. Their place of work is 15 kilometre off the district town. A local NGO named Centre for Mass Education in Science (CMES) runs the factory at Khaserhat in Sadar upazila is manufacturer of soaps.

Fourteen-year-old Shirin said to this correspondent she had left school three years back when he was a student of class four. Then her father used to earn only Tk 50 a day from agriculture which was not enough to run their family of four brothers and three sisters. Being informed, she came to the centre where she took three months' training. Now she earns Tk 800 to 1,000 each month and contributes her earning towards their family's welfare. A few distressed women also got jobs in the centre.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

During a visit to the centre, this correspondent came to know that many others want to sell labour to make soaps here. 'But the scope is limited', said Ahsan Anisur Rahman, an official of the centre.

The venture was launched here in a limited scale in January, 1995. The soaps are marketed in Patuakhali and Barguna districts. Each soap weighing 70 grams is being sold at Tk 5.

'We had to work hard to pursue whole-sellers as well as retailers', Shirin told this correspondent. 'Now local businessmen are also sympathetic to us due to what they say its better quality,' Anisur Rahman said. 'We are trying to expand the project by procuring new machines. It is a sustainable venture with a small capital', he said.

Nilufa who was seen busy in packing soaps told this correspondent, 'My father is a rickshaw-puller. I stopped attending school due to poverty. Five of the girls now realise that education is necessary for decent living but now they do not have the scope.

However, they will go to school if they get an opportunity, they told this correspondent. The official of the centre, Anisur Rahman informed this correspondent they are thinking seriously for their studies.