From bidi factory to school

A group of children brought out of bidi factories on the premises of a pre-school orientation centre in Tangail. PHOTO: STAR

They are among 823 children and adolescents taken out of bidi factories in Bhuapur, Kalihati, Madhupur, Mirzapur and Sadar upazilas of Tangail.

Of them, 198 are now attending pre-primary centres and 560 are going to primary schools. About 400 of them have been enrolled at government primary schools in the district.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

About 170 adolescents have been given pre-technical and 300 given technical training on different vocations including tailoring, light engineering and other income generating work.

The laudable work is being done by two local NGOs-- Social Advancement Through Unity (SATU) and Society for Social Service (SSS).

SATU launched the programme in November 2001 with financial assistance from ILO and USDOL United States Department of Labour). The first phase of its project ended in June this year.

The two NGOs are also giving micro credit to parents of the children for various income generating activities so that they do not send their minor boys and girls for the hazardous work any more. Loans are given for small business, poultry, mat making, vegetable cultivation, fishery and weaving. They distributed Tk 41,48,55 loans among 22, 337 families. The loan recovery rate is above 98 per cent.

They also hold group meetings to create awareness among poor parents to send their children to school.

SATU now runs 17 pre-primary centres in Tangail district. After orientation and primary lessons, children from the centres are enrolled in different primary schools.

Sources in the two NGOs said there are 14 bidi factories in Tangail employing 1884 children.

Talking to this correspondent, SATU Executive Director Shahadat Hossen said, "If we can create awareness and make the women self-dependent, they will no send their children to bidi factories and for other risky work".