Research Reports (2003): Social Studies, Vol – XXXI
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Item Using IEC materials for mass communication: experiences of an Arsenic mitigation project in Bangladesh(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 2003) Hossain, Zabed; Quaiyum, Md.; Jakariya, Md.Different types of lEC materials were used in BRAe's arsenic mitigation project (June 1999-December 2001). Printed lEC (Information. education. and communication) materials included posters. leaflets. stickers. booklets. carry folders. flashcards. class routine cards. prayer time clocks. and letters. The effectiveness of these materials is assessed. Experiences gained in using them to communicate With rural people are discussed. The findings are expected to help policy makers in selecting appropriate printed lEC materials to raise awareness among the arsenic affected people of Bangladesh.Item Sustainable community- based safe water options to mitigate the Bangladesh arsenic catastrophe - an experience from two upazilas(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 2003-05) Jakariya, Md.; Chowdhury, AMR; Hossain, Zabed; Rahman, Mizanur; Sarkar, Quaiyum; Khan, Ruhul Islam; Rahman, MahfuzarSustainable community-based safe water options have been successfully operating in two upazilas involving 531 villages and encompassing a population of 497,488. Testing of tubewells for arsenic was carried out on a census basis by trained village health workers (VHWs) using the Merck fieldtesting kit. A total of 51,685 tubewells were tested and further verified both in the field and laboratory. VHWs initially identified suspected arsenicosis patients who were later confirmed by physicians. A total of 403 patients were identified. The prevalence rates of arsenicosis were 106/10,000 in Sonargoan and 57/19,000 in Jhikargachha upazilas. The average age of the patients was 36 and 30 years respectively and the majority belong to the 15-45 years age group. There has been close community involvement at all stages of implementation of the arsenic-free safe water options adapted from various sources, giving preference to the community-based options to ensure local participation and utilize knowledge. Potential sources of arsenic-free drinking water were identified. To ensure sustainable use provided options were assessed based on community acceptability, technical viability, and financial viability. The key to the success of the project has been the combination of close integration with the community at all stages and appropriate technical solutions.Item Occurrence, distribution and time-trend of arsenic in ground water of Jhikorgachha, Jessore, Bangladesh(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 2003-09) Jakariya, Md.; Ahmed, Kazi Matin; Hasan, M. Abul; Nahar, Sultana; Rahman, MahfuzarIn order to assess the arsenic concentration change over time, water from a total of 246 tubewells Jhikargachha upazila of Jessore district were tested using atomic absorption spectrophotometer in two different periods of time. The main objective of the study was to develop a sustainable and affordable arsenic testing protocol for the arsenic affected communities of the country. While measuring groundwater arsenic concentration change over time, local hydrogeology and geostatistical relationship with arsenic were also analysed. It has been observed that movement of groundwater, according to elevation contour maps of dry and wet seasons of 1996, is from the central part of the study area towards the peripheral rivers. A relationship between arsenic distribution patterns and groundwater movement, though not obvious, could be established. Geostatistical analyses have been performed to investigate relationships between arsenic in groundwater with different well and aquifer parameters. A positive co-relation was observed between well depth vs. percentage of arsenic contaminated wells i.e. a general increasing trend of contaminated wells from 30 to 60m (~=0.81). This increasing trend changes at depth greater than 60m. The arsenic concentration results reveal that the highest number of tube well water showed change in concentration level in either case (i.e. increased or decreased). The highest increase was 91 J..lg/L and lowest decrease was 128.20 J..lg/L. This trend indicates that arsenic concentration in tubewell water can change in both directions but the tendency to reduce concentratio~ levels of arsenic in the analysed water was comparatively high. However, the findings of the study did not show any strong indication about changing the concentration level of arsenic in tubewell water.Item BRAC-Ain 0 Salish Kendro Joint Legal Aid Programme: a comprehensive review(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 2003-12) Banu, DilrubaBRAC-Ain 0 Salish Kendro (ASK) joint legal aid programme was initiated to promote legal awareness among the poor along with providing them legal assistance to resolve their problems. This study intended to review BRAC-ASK joint legal aid programme at different steps of its operation. Both qualitative and quantitative data was collected for this study. Findings showed that BRAC staff could develop their capacity to implement the legal aid programme in an effective way. The programme required close supervision by BRAC and ASK at its every stage of operation, which a single PO could not ensure. The programme needed to be held more workshops and seminars at village level to make the programme widely accepted by the community people. The programme dealt with sensitive issues so liaison with the local police and the political parties was necessary for BRAC staffs personal security. The activities of panel lawyers should be strongly monitored. The paralegal sebikas can share only those activities of legal aid programme which are more convenient to them compare to other BRAC staff. BRAC members had better knowledge on different aspects of legal aid programme than that of non-members. Around one-fourth of the respondents who received assistance from BRAC evaluated the legal aid programme either fairly effective or completely ineffective to solve their problems.Item Attitudes of the Elite Groups towards the ultra-poor: secondary stakeholders in the CFPR-TUP(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 2003) Chowdhury, Manosh; Lapenna, Lily; Mishu, Abu Ahasan"Attitudes of the Elite Groups towards the Ultra-Poor Secondary stakeholders in the CFPR-TUP" was initiated as a combined effort between Advocacy and RED. Secondary stakeholders are those that beyond the primary stakeholders have the potentials to contribute to the success of implementing and running the CFPR/TUP program, by having a crucial impetus in the design of the participatory process. The purpose of the research is to analyze and suggest which stockholders can effectively contribute and how. Secondary stakeholders range from administration officials, civil servants to NGO workers. Program recognizes that it cannot help reduce the vulnerabilities and expand the opportunities of the poor, especially women, without redressing unbalanced power relationships and oppressive social practices. For this reason, program seeks to promote what it calls the socio-political assets - not just social assets - of the poor. The elite people are not. in general, willing to have a regular social bondage with the ultra-poor people. Either they are ignorant of, or reluctant to the situations of the ultra-poor. Socially they do maintain a huge distance. Only exception is the rural landowners and the persons in the GSCs. The development programs generally are accepted among the elite people. Major areas of elite people's interest are education and housing, the areas favored already by the NGOs. But small-scale income generating programs are also a asserted priority of the elite people.Item Assessment of environmental awareness of the students with primary education(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 2003-12) Lammia SharminItem Arsenic in tubewell water and health consequences: mitigation component(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 2003-12) Jakariya, Md.Item An assessment on the performance of BRAC nursery seedlings with special emphasis on Amrapali(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 2003-06) Hossain, Zabed; Quaiyum, Md; Jakariya, Md.; Akter, NasimaThe study examined the performance of the three kinds of seedlings of BRAC nurseries named Amrpali, lemon, and guava. Interview was taken from those buyers who bought those seedlings from BRAG. A total of 153 buyers among those 109 were of Amrpali and 22 lemon and 22 guava. Growers were selected from 29 BRAG area offices covering six divisions across the country. Since it is claimed that Amrapali gives better fruits if these seedlings are grown after two years of plantation of the seedlings. Therefore, seedlings grown in year 1999 were selected for the study conducted in February 2003. More than 90% of the seedling plantation is of homestead type. Out of 807 Amrapali seedlings grown by the buyers in 1999 around 69% were found to survive during the study. The average survival rate of the three varieties is 72.8%. The main reason for death of the seedlings grown was carelessness of the buyers. Some kinds of carelessness included growing of the seedlings under shade and breaking of stem by children or animals. Majority of the respondents mentioned that they faced pest -attack during cultivation of the plants. Majority of the growers were found to be hopeful with their seedlings grown. There is a serious lack of technical knowledge about cultivating the seedlings. Buyers claimed that technical support of BRAG staff is not sufficient. Therefore BRAG staff should help them giving more technical knowledge for cultivation of seedlings.