Follow-up Study Report on Gender Situation in

The Study Team

Lead consultant and Gender Specialist

Shuchita Sharmin, Ph.D.

Field Support Team

Ashfaq Ahmed Abdul Hamid Muhammad Hasnain Mollah Kazi Abu Sayed

IUCN (INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE) COUNTRY OFFICE

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1. Introduction Tanguar Haor is a wetland ecosystem comprising of 10,000 ha of land area and is located in the north-eastern district of Sunamgonj at the foothill of the Khasi Hills. This wetland has been designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention since 2000. The ecological system surrounding Tanguar Haor provides livelihood to some 77,000 people spread over 88 villages (Census of TH, 2007). It includes a unique ecosystem, supporting 150 varieties of fishes, more than 100 resident birds and around 200 species of wetland flora.

The Government of Bangladesh declared Tanguar haor as an Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) in 1999 considering its critical condition as a result of overexploitation of its natural resources. In 2000, Tanguar haor was declared a Ramsar site - wetland of international importance. With these declarations, the Government has reinforced its commitment to preserve the natural resources of this wetland and has taken several steps for the protection of this ecosystem.

Due to its status as an ECA and Ramsar site, under the National Conservation Strategy Implementation Project -1 (NCSIP-1), the Government (MoEF) initiated a pilot project in Tanguar haor. Under that project, a management plan was developed with technical assistance from IUCN Bangladesh in 2000. In 2002, IUCN Bangladesh on behalf of the MoEF has developed a proposal titled community based sustainable management of Tanguar Haor to seek donor commitments to fund the project. It was revised again in 2004. The main approach of the project is a co-management system to be developed between the state and the community. Following 3 key actors are being involved to make the co-management system functional: a) the State, represented by MoEF (Ministry of Environment and Forest) b) Local Governments c) The Communities in the Tanguar Haor

One of the major concern of the project was that the women (who constitute no less than 50% of the population in the project area), will have more meaningful involvement in different groups and associations supported by the project. With this consideration, a

2 gender baseline study had been conducted at the haor in 2010 to reveal the actual status of women as well as gender imbalances1 in the project areas and it also identified gender specific problems and needs that existed in the project area.

The present study was a follow up of that gender baseline study to reveal whether there is any change in the situation after two years of community based sustainable management of Tanguar Haor Project. The study outcomes revealed the current situation and allowed a comparison between the findings of the baseline study and the present one.

2. Methodology

2.1 Study Area Tanguar Haor is a large haor that lies within district extending over 10 mauzas of Dharmapasha and Tahirpur of the district. This follow up study on gender situation was conducted in Mujrai, Mandiata and Janjail villages of Uttar Sreepur Union of Tahirpur which are under the Community Based Sustainable Management of the Tanguar Haor Project.

2.2 Sample The sample was a convenience sample. In total 3 in-depth interviews were conducted. A total of 5 FGDs were the main source of information for the present study. The FGDs were conducted on those who had different occupational patterns including fisheries, agriculture, handicrafts, livestock and poultry rearing; and fuel wood collection. It is significant to mention here that the FGDs were undertaken separately for male and female groups in the study area for an unbiased gender dimension of the collected data. A case study, as was found to be very relevant to report had also been collected. The detail on the in-depth interviews, FGDs and the Case Study is given in the following page through a table.

2 Here gender imbalance is determined in terms of right over assets (necessary for the job performed by male and female) and participation 3

Table 1. Summary on the FGDs, In-depth interviews and the Case Study

Name/Names of Age Designation/ Topic Research Location Duration Date the Respondents Group Occupational Tools group Used

Mr. Azad Accounts Officer, Brief summary of the study In-depth IUCN 30 Minuets 12-6- IUCN area, guiding information for interview office, 2012 locating target groups Sunamganj

Shitesh Majumder Program Supervisor Summary of ongoing programs, In-depth CNRS 45 Minuets 12-6- method of loan distribution and interview office, 2012 repayment conditions, key Uttar information for targeting Sreepur diverse occupational groups in Union different villages

Jatondro Barman, 28-47 Fishing, Reproductive, productive, FGD Mujrai 45 Minuets 13-6- Girendro Barman, Agriculture Community managing and Village 2012 Shamchandra political activities, Decision Barman, Babul Making Barman, Barmohon Barman

Alpona Rani, 21-32 Cooking, Reproductive, productive, FGD Mujrai 50 Minuets 13-6- Shima Rani, Renu Household Community managing and Village 2012 Barman, Bineta, Cleaning, Domestic political activities, Decision Rekha. Work, Backyard Making gardening

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Name/Names of Age Designation/ Topic Research Location Duration Date the Respondents Group Occupational Tools group Used

Bashonti, Nirabola 22-39 Cooking, Reproductive, productive, FGD Mujrai 35 Minuets 13-6- Barman, Momota Household Community managing and Village 2012 Begum, Konika Cleaning, Domestic political activities, Decision Barman Work, Backyard Making gardening

Nirmol Barman, 24-51 Fishing, Reproductive, productive, FGD Mujrai 50 Minuets 13-6- Nolendu Barman, Agriculture Community managing and Village 2012 Juwel Barman, political activities, Decision Kajol Barman, Making Nirbodol Barman

Ajijul Haq, Sifot 34-76 Fishing, Reproductive, productive, FGD Mujrai 40 Minuets 13-6- Ali, Ilius Miah, Agriculture Community managing and Village 2012 Shagor, Abdun political activities, Decision Nur Making

Mrs. Sufiya 55 Small Business Trajectory patterns on making Case Mandiata 50 Minuets 12-6- Begum small business as a successful Study Village 2012 initiative

Hashem Mian 36 Handicrafts Advantages of making In-Depth Janjail 35 Minuets 14-6- handicrafts and its future Interview Village 2012 prospects in the remote areas

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2.3 Study Procedure An in-depth interview was conducted with an IUCN staff at Sunamganj. As suggested by the IUCN staff, Uttar Sreepur Union was selected for a discussion session with the CNRS staffs related to the study area and data collection feasibility. A Program Supervisors of CNRS at Uttar Sreepur Union was interviewed next who along with information on interviewed issues, supported on planning the field data collection. Considering feasibility of time and accessibility, all the 5 FGDs were carried out on 13-5- 2012 at Mujrai village. Due to limitation of time, only one case study was conducted on 12-6-2012 at Mandiata village. On 14-5-2012, the last in-depth interview was conducted at Janjail village with Hashem mian whose major livelihoods is handicrafts production.

A total number of 25 respondents from Mujrai village were considered for conducting the FGDs of whom 16 (64%) were male and 9 (36%) were female. A case study was undertaken on a female respondent engaged with small business initiative. Finally, an in- depth interview was taken on a male respondent who was engaged with making handicrafts.

3 Findings As the primary objective of this follow-up study was to monitor the progress of gender baseline survey which was conducted on 2010 under Community Based Sustainable Management of the Tanguar Haor Project, the findings of the present study are categorized into four subcategories following the FGD checklist used for the previous baseline survey.

3.1 Reproductive Activities

According to the previous gender baseline report, reproductive activities include household activities like water collection, cooking for family members, cleaning homesteads, washing clothes, child rearing etc. The ‘natural’ order stresses that women remain more involved in the household activities and this has been evident in this study.

According to the previous gender baseline report, 13.6% of female were engaged with the collection of firewood whereas in this present study, 44% of women respondents have been engaged in this particular type of reproductive activities. Household repairing works are primarily done by the male respondents which stand about 87.5% of the total male respondents in this present study. Women have been dominantly engaged in the household activities in the study area. However, most of them were found not to be

6 involved in income generating activities. Women remain at the house all day long and maintain the daily activities like cooking (100%), child rearing (88%), water collection (88%) etc.

Like all other villages in the Tanguar Haor area, people of Mujrai village used to live in joint families. But, recently some nuclear families are also being formed. Male children, getting married start living apart from their parents. The prevalence of nuclear families is increasing leading to verities of insecurities for the female. While the only adult male member of the nuclear family goes out for fishing, female members at home become insecure.

Education rate is very low due to unfavorable environment. However, 80% of the total respondents were favorable about sending their children to school. The male and female children have to go to schools by boats all by themselves which lead discontinuation of education in both male and female children. Consequently, boys start helping their father in fishing and other activities from a very early age. Female children and wives of the houses manage their household chores. Sometimes they take care of their cattle.

Productive Activities

The productive activities refer to those works which can generate income. The study findings reveal that male are mainly engaged in the productive activities and women sometimes contribute to the family earning as supplementary depending on the work availability.

In Mujrai village, the main occupation for the male is fishing (100%) but they involve themselves in the agricultural activities seasonally. There are no fixed works allocated for the women residing in the village around the whole year. Besides maintaining the household works, women tend to engage in earth work depending on the availability. The fishing nets used at the household level are bought from the market but they do not make their own fishing net at home. Most interestingly, women are involved in making fishing nets for demands coming out of the village and they are paid for making them as it becomes a supplementary income source for the women. In the baseline survey done previously, such kind of income generation activities in which female members engage were not found to exist to be reported as prominent. This study showed that 66.6% of total women respondents engage in such productive activities in the present times and whenever available/ possible. However, the female members of the community expressed discontent as availability of earth work and such short term income generating activities is very scarce in their and all other remote villages of Sunamganj.

In most of the cases small business initiatives have been successful in Mandiata village. Such success were reflected through women empowerment as they were having their

7 productive livelihoods and could contribution for the household needs with the earnings. A Case Study illustrates a successful story of small business initiative in the study area.

Box: 1

Sufiya Begum: An Example of Success

Mrs. Sufiya Begum was born in 1957 and living in a small village named Mandiata. Originally she was born in Moyzhuri village and at the age of 14, she got married with Md. Ershad Ali who was farmer cum fisherman. After

her marriage, she went to Mandiata village with her husband. At the age of 16, she gave birth to her eldest son Sohel. In 1975, 1978 and 1982 she gave birth to her other children Anisullah, Rohim and Noshad respectively. It was difficult for her husband to manage such a big household with the increasing demand of livelihood. They found themselves into extreme poverty and because of this reason; they were not even capable of sending their children into school. Her son Anisullah joined the fishing business at the age of 15 and

Rohim and Noushad also started to work as day laborer at their early age. In 1990, Sufiya Begum took a loan from ASA of 12000 taka and started a grocery shop in her own house. It was a turning point for her to change the condition of her household. Her husband suddenly stopped working due to some unavoidable circumstances and the full responsibility was forwarded to Sufiya Begum alone. She managed the business successfully and repaid the loan in 1996. In 1997, she took another loan of 20000 taka from ASA and that time she bought two cows. In that year, all of her son got separated expect her third son. In 1998, her husband got affected by Jaundice and Sufiya had to

manage all the medical expenditures. In 2003, she took a loan of 10000 taka from IUCN for expanding her business. Now, she has started her personal savings account where she saves 20 taka per week. Although, she has encountered with several ups and down in her life but the decision of making a small business initiative reflected as a blessing in her life. Now, she is planning to expand the business more and dream to have a dairy farm consisting of thirty cows. She wishes her grandchildren to take proper

education.

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In Janjail, most of the households are dependent on making the handicrafts as their major occupation. They mostly make Shitolpati from Mukta tree and sell them into the market by themselves. They are engaged in this type of activity for the whole year and go out for fishing in the Haor for their own consumption. It takes more or less four weeks to complete a Shitolpati and they sell a single unit for 650-1200 taka depending on the size and design used. Besides producing the hand made products, they also have cattle in their house. In-depth discussion with the respondent revealed the need for assistance in terms of selling their products in the markets regularly and at a reasonable price. Maintaining the domestic animals and earning from them has remained the second major occupation on that village. Male and female both are equally engaged in making the handicrafts.

3.3 Community Managing and Political Activities

The previous gender baseline report reflected the dominance of male respondents in terms of community management and political activities. The situation has remained almost unchanged except for community management.

Female participation in the community activities are encouraged by the community workers. 100% of the female respondents showed their positive response in attending the village committee. At the village committee there are three female members selected for the tenure. These three women were the members for the previous period too. Being educated more than others is one of the reasons of selecting same female as the committee member for more than one tenure. In the community gathering, they raise issues of common interest and continue discussion on it for possible solutions or alternatives.

3.4 Decision Making

The baseline survey conducted in 2010 revealed that the women had no freedom of movement. However, the situation has started to change and 88% of the total female respondents are taking decisions to take part in the income generating activities. Due to poverty and difficulty in maintaining a minimum standard of living, women are now allowed to get involved in different types of IGAs and thus contributing to the family. As they contribute to the family, their importance in familial decision making is also recognized in the present time.

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4 Conclusion

Women empowerment at Tanguar Haor is still in a very early stage. Still the number of earning women is very low. In such adverse environment starting from difficult communication, each step forward is difficult for them. Some women work as day labourers at the Indian border for collecting stone (Calciferous stone) and planting Mukta plants. Even in such activities, female workers experience discrimination. While, male workers are paid Tk.300 a day, female workers get a pay of Tk.200 only.

Female workers also face challenges moving from villages to villages. They were seen coming back running from the working places as it was going to be dark (evening) soon. It reflects that movement of females after evening at remote villages is not safe, at least from the social point of view.

For a secured life, the first priority identified by the female members was to get the village dam constructed with brick or slab as it may give a permanent solution for saving the village at raining season or flooding.

The second priority is to improve the health service delivery. Boats are not always available at the critical moments and it takes long time to take the patient to nearby clinics or hospitals. As a result, the patients and their families suffer a lot and frewquently patients die due to not receiving timely treatment. Female members especially become victims of such difficult health care services.

The final priority was to get scope of engaging in any kind of income generating activities as women can help the family survive better through their additional earning.

Even after all the adverse situations facing the female members, their role at each household is very critical and important. The existence and the further consequence of poverty still remains at a pivotal stage at the study area but surviving against all the odds by both male and female has remained extraordinary. The significant major finding in this follow-up study is that the female are now increasingly getting engaged in productive and community level and political activities along with the reproductive activities.

The streamline findings from the study area can be summarized as follows:

• Increased awareness among the respondents in favour of sending their children to schools even when risks associated with flooding and other natural disasters exist. • The demand for productive activities such as earth work and other short term / additional IGAs.

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• Small business initiatives for female have been found as a gateway for fighting against poverty and sustaining in the remote villages of haor areas. • Increased participation of women in village committees and their role in decision making such as engaging themselves in the productive activities has found to contribute significantly. • Existence of wage discrimination between male and female workers while collecting stones or planting Mukta plants. • The quality of the existing dam has been found to be very fragile and unsustainable which pose high risk in the rainy seasons and floods. It involves heavy financial burden on the households living in the study area. Females feel insecure. • Health services are found to be scarce and time consuming because of the lack of necessary transportation system in and around the haor areas. Females become victim of such poor health services very easily.

The contribution of the project in terms of IGAs and community and political activities for the female members of the community has initiated the process of change. Further follow-up on such initiatives may lead to a social change toward a relatively better off households and a relatively equitable society.

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