Research Reports (1998): Social Studies, Vol – XVIII

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Environmental sanitation in participatory development approach: experience of NGOs in Bangladesh
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1998) Hadi, Abdullahel
Micro-credit programs, women's empowerment and change in nuptiality in Bangladesh villages
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1998) Amin, Farzana D; Hadi, Abdullahel
Although the fertility impact of micro-credit and women's empowerment programs has received increasing attention in recent years, the role of credit-based income generating programs on nuptiality in traditional communities has rarely been explored. This research examines how the social and cultural aspects of micro-credit programs modifies the traditional practices of early marriages and dowry in Bangladesh villages. In-depth interviews were conducted to collect data from the mothers of a sample of 597 recently married women living in 90 villages in the Manikganj district of Bangladesh where numerous development agencies have been providing credit-based development programs for the poor. Findings reveal that women's involvement in credit activities not only raises their living standard but creates a space for them in their households that leads to a new form of cultural behavior among the household members. The traditional nuptial practices such as early marriage appear to be diminishing while the practices of dowry are increasing. The multivariate analysis indicates that the effect of mother's involvement in credit-based income generating programs in raising age at marriage is positive but the newly gained cultural behavior does not have any effect on the practice of dowry when education, land ownership and media exposure variables are controlled. The paper argues that while the credit program has the potential not only to raise the living standard and to some extent empower the poor, but also has freed the inherent aspirations of certain traditional values.
An evaluation of BRAC village organisations: focusing on selected indicators
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1998-03) Kamal, FM; Hadi, Abdullahel; Hauqe, Fazlul; Hussain, Alamgir
1. The study was based on a conceptual premise that BRAC's credit-plus approach not only helps improve economic condition of the rural poor by disbursing loan, but its group formation, conscietisation, skill training and other educative and developmental components help generate attitudinal changes towards a socio-economic transition. In such context BRAC's villagae organisation (VO) has been hypothesized as a conduit. 2. The study had the following objectives: a). to explore what proportion of VOs follow the stimulated norms, b). to know the differentials of regular and irregular VOs, and c). to examine how the regular members differ from irregular members in respect to perception of well-being, economic status, observance of VO norms and other selected criteria. 3. The study had two units of analysis: the VO and the individual member. The VOs formed in years from 1986 to 1995 are taken as the study population. A total of 240 VOs from 18 RDP regions were selected by a stratified random sampling technique. From each VO, 2 regular and 2 irregular YO member were selected randomly. 4. A pretested semi-structured questionnaire and a direct observation checklist were used for data collection. The questionnaire was used to conduct interviews with individual YO members and the direct observational data on YO meetings were collected through a checklist. 5. About 68 percent of the YO members are illiterate. Only 9.3 percent have above primary literacy. About 88 percent of the VO members are Muslim and 12 percent are Hindu. 6. Of the VOs, 51.5 percent adopt resolutions in meetings, 16.3 percent ring bell, 36.0 percent start meeting in time, 74.5 percent recite 18 points, 43.5 percent have small groups, 42.7 percent follow proper, sitting arrangement and 19.2 percent follow appropriate loan reimbursement process. There exist significant regional variation in observance of these norms. The year of YO formation has also significant impact on observance of the VO norms. 7. About 74 percent of the VOW members have land less than 50 decimals, about 20 percent 50-199 decimals and 6. 7 percent more 200 decimals. 8. Most members joined BRAC for financial benefits. For them, saving facilities, educational opportunities for children, better seeds for cultivation and job opportunities are other issues of attraction. 9. The knowledge of VO members about head of small group and his responsibility, after fluctuations in the early years, consistently improves among recent VO members. Such knowledge is significantly higher among regular VO members. 10. Age and education of the YO members and the year of receiving first loan have no impact on regularity of the YO members. 11. The feeling of economic well-being among the YO members slowly but persistently improves by year of joining BRAC. But those who perceive that their economy has been declining maintains more or less the same trend irrespective of year of joining 12. Like peception of economic well-being, the surplus household economy is comparatively higher among members those who joined BRAC in recent years, after 1993 . The proportion of those who have no surplus or deficit economy represent about one-third of all VO members, and does not vary with the year of joining BRAC. The surplus economy of the household very significantly depends on regularity of the member. 13. The length of BRAC involvement has no significant impact on receiving modem method of medical treatment for household members. 14. Lack of money for loan repayment, sickness, inhibition from husband and family members, inappropriate behaviour from BRAC staff are important causes of absence from VO meetings. 15. Tendency to leave BRAC, lack of cash money, less income and hindrance from husband are common causes of non-payment of weekly savings. 16. Eighteen percent of the VO members are also member of other NGOs. Both membership and credit involvement follow more or less the same trend over the years from 1986 to 1995. 17. VO members, irrespective of year of joining BRAC, show comparatively higher loan repayment rate than savings. However, both the weekly saving and the loan repayment rate followed the same trend in the study period. 18. About 37 percent of the VOs had 40 percent or less attendance rate and 33.1 percent had 41-60 percent attendance rate. More than 60 attendance rate are observed in 30 percent of the VOs. 19. In about 32 percent of the VOs, the weekly savings deposit rate is 60 percent or less, and it is 61 - 80 percent in about 32 percent of VOs. More than 80 percent savings deposit rate is found in 45.2 percent of the VOs. 20. The loan repayment rate of 60 percent or less are found in 16.3 percent of VOs. The rate is 61-80 percent in 18.8 percent of the VOs. More than 80 percent repayment rate are found in 64.9 percent of the VOs. 21. While asked how to remove existing weakness of the VO, 22.3 percent of the suggestions favoured removal of pressurization of the members for loan repayment. Motivating husbands towards BRAC were suggested in 3. 7 percent of the replies. Surprisingly, 74 percent of the answers did not contain any specific suggestion. 22. Among irregular VO members, irrespective of year of joining BRAC, loan repayment rate is comparatively higher than weekly savings. Both repayment and savings show the same trend of relationship with the year of joining BRAC.
Domestic violence against women: does development intervention matter?
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1998-03) Khan, Mahmuda Rahman; Ahmed, Syed Masud; Bhuiya, Abbas; Chowdhury, Mushtaque
Early marriage, bride price and the practice of dowry in Bangladesh villages
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1998-04) Hadi, Abdullahel
This study estimates the incidence and correlates of early marriage and the practice of dowry in rural Bangladesh. Data for this research came from Watch, a surveillance system of BRAC covering 70 villages in I 0 regions of the country. The incidence of early marriage was reported 60.~% and the dowry practice was 50.1% in 1996. Findings reveal that such socioeconomic factors as the education of spouses, amount of land owned, socioeconomic status and media exposure has reduced the incidence of early marriage and practice of dowry while increased the amount of bride prices. Hindus were more likely to practice dowry than Muslims. The participation in micro-credit programme has not played any significant role in reducing early marriage and dowry practices in rural Bangladesh.
Women's control over productive assets: role of credit-based development interventions
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1998-05) Huda, Samiha; Mahmud, Simeen
The story of Khodeja: an entrepreneur par excellence
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1998-06) Mehdi, Jarana
Investigation on the strategy and impact of artificial insemination programme and performance of Crossbred Cattle in Bangladesh
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1998-08) Majid, M.A.; Nahar, T. N.; Hossain, K. M.; Talukder, A. I.
This collaborative study was -sponsored by BRAC and executed by the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI), Savar with logistic and other support of the Department ofUvestock Services (DLS), GOB to investigate the strategy and effectiveness of the artificial insemination (AI) programme of the DLS and BRAC at different AI centres, sub-centres and points and to evaluate the performance of the crossbred cattle in Bangladesh. Four district AI centres, 12 AI sub-centres, 16 AI points under DLS and 7 AI points under BRAC were selected. Three villages with varying distance from Al centres or sub-centres of each district and two villages under each Al point were selected. Twelve households rearing crossbred cattle from each village were selected to study the performance of crossbred cattle while 25 households were selected from each village to determine their socioeconomic status and the impact of Al. Findings show the Al bulls supplied to district AI centres did not strictly conform to the national breeding policy. The semen evaluation system was satisfactory at the central AI laboratory but were not so at different district AI laboratories. Semen preservation systems and facilities were also not very scientific. Almost 50% of the study areas were supplied with liquid semen in vials and the supply was often irregular. The mode of transportation was also traditional which included bus, rickshaw, bicycle or even walking. Most of the AI sub-centres could not examine semen due to absence of equipment and facilities such as microscope, electricity or due to some social problem. Milk yields of crossbred cattle varied and was found higher during the rainy season in Jessore, Rangpur and Comilla but were lower in flood prone areas in Tangail. The best performance was found among Local x Friesian cows followed by Local x Sindhi and L x J. The reproductive performances of Friesian cross progenies were found better than others. Data showed that BRAC cattle rearers had smaller cultivated land, higher level of education, higher involvement of women in livestock rearing and greater awareness about AI services than non-BRAC rearers. Almost 100% of BRAC rearers used AI to cross their cattle. They also took better care of their animals and achieved higher conception rate.
Vegetable growers of BRAC and Flood 1998: a case study of Sonaidanga Balkuntthapur VO
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1998-09) Ahmed, Dilruba
This study was conducted to know how the flood of 1998 affected the vegetable production of BRAG members and how they copped with the situation. The observation was conducted on 6 members of Sonaidanga Baikuntthapur VO in Gaibandha. On average they used 30.2 decimals of land for vegetable cultivation. Vegetable cultivation was an important source of income for the households. Due to flood the vegetable plots went under about 137 centimetre deep water. On average they lost Tk. 3, 188 due to the damage of thejr vegetable crops caused by flood. It seriously affected their regular income flow, thus their normal life. To cope with the situation they took some measures such as disposing of savings, starting of new business, taking of loan, reducing household consumption and expenditure, and selling of stored paddy. In order to make up the losses members needed new loans from BRAG for vegetable cultivation after flood.
Flood '98 and BRAC - a case study on three slums in Dhanmandi area of Dhaka city
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1998-10) Rashid, Sabina; Halder, Shantana R
This study is on Kathal Bagan, Bou Bazaar and Hazaribagh slums in Dhanmondi Area in Dhaka city of Bangladesh. It describes mainly the suffetings of the slum dwellers during floods, their coping strategy, the extent of damages caused by floods and BRAC's action on relief for them. In Kathal Bagan majority slum dwellers relocated to other places since this slum was 3-4 feet under water for t\lilo months. Those who did not leave in all three slums raised their beds with breaks. Some of them moved to the top of the roof of their house. Majority of slum dwellers lived in the rented houses. They mainly lost their personal goods. All of them had to cut their expenditure by cutting three to one rice meal a day due to loss of income, employment and increase in the price of food items and other necessities. Although they were suffering from hygiene and sanitation problems but everybody drank safe water. BRAC is the only organization from whom they got food, water purification tablets, health and other supports. With great difficulties they all managed to pay back the loan and savings installments.