The Wind of Change-Blowing at Subarnachar

[Asad-Uz-Zaman Asad]

“I was bound to stop my education in 2008 due to financial crisis of my family. I was a student of class seven and my family consists of seven members. I was in frustration and very anxious about my future life. Oneday I heard that Digonter Dak Pallitathya Kendra (Rural Information Centre) was offering ` sewing Training Course’ for the rural women with a little amount of money. I took the chance without making any late. Finally I completed the training and working with sewing machine in my house. Now I’m earning BDT 3000-4000 per month and contributing to my poor family. It was a great milestone in my life”-said Ms. Setara Akter (17) of East Chorbata village of Subarnachar Upazila in Noakhali District.

Last month (From 20th June to 26th June,2009) I went to Subarnachar Upazila due to Monitoring & Evaluation issues of Pallitathya Kendra (PK).This PK was implemented by Digonter Dak, a local NGO ; And established inside the Local Government Office with active support of Chairman of Local Union Parishad (UP). The idea is to create a demonstration effect for other Ups. This PK is established at a cross-section of roads and closer to Hat (Ansar miar hat), a public gathering place so that community people can visit PK conveniently.

I talked with many people of this locality including farmers, day labors, students, youth, women and children. Most of them are double illiterate: basic illiteracy and ICT illiteracy. But their attitudes towards PK are very positive, because they are getting livelihood information from PK and taking right decision in right time. It helps them for poverty alleviation.

Md.Yasin (51), a poor farmer of Purbo Chorbata said, “When I face any problem related to my agriculture, I come to PK for better solution. The PK is our friend and guide.”

Roghubir Das, a ret. Teacher of Chorbata Moddhopara govt. primary school said, “It’s a great pleasure of us that we got PK in our village. The general people of this locality are getting proper information from the Centre. I also visit PK regularly.”

Another service receiver Abdullah Faruk Sohel, a student of Hons.2nd year in Accounting of Noakhali Degree College said, “I was very unskilled in computer. As a student of graduation level it was really a discredit for me. So, recently I have taken computer training from PK with a small amount of money and got certificate provided by an International Institution, Microsoft Unlimited. We cannot run even a single day without the help of computer.”

The PK uses the off-line, on-line, mobile technology based, printed and face-to-face channels. Off-line channels are content based Jeeon-IKB, directory database Jeeon-Thikana, PC or TV based video show, Helpline etc. On-line channels are web based www.jeeon.com, www.jeebika.com, www.jeeon-thikana.com, www.gunijan.com, www.ghatbd.org , www.forms.gov.bd etc. Face-to-face (ICT assisted) channels are thematic camps (education, agriculture, health and legal), Adult women literacy program `Naree O Noksha’, Kajoli, sisimpur pre-school program, Computer training and Computer Teaches Everyday English (CTEE).

Traditional ICTs like TV or PC based video show was effective to bring in community beneficiaries to PK for awareness as well as educational entertainment. Sisimpur, Meena cartoon was screened afternoon every week at PK and that brought in their parents to the PK.

The diversity of channels creates synergy among them and creates alternative when one channel is not effective. The combination of channels allowed the PK to introduce `No Refusal Policy’. If Jeeon-IKB fails to provide solution to any particular problem, then the problem is sent to Help Desk through mobile phone, email or Skype messenger. If the expert panel also fails to respond to a particular query, then senior expert panel is consulted and the response is sent to the information seeker. This policy raised respect of PK among the community beneficiaries.

Now the wind of change is blowing at Subarnachar. Rural and marginalized people are exercising their rights in their daily life through increased awareness. Local people are very happy.

Writer: Programme Associate, D.Net (Development Research Network), Dhaka, Bangladesh.

[Asad-Uz-Zaman Asad]

Thanks Munni Apa for your feedback.
But in first para I have written Pallitathya Kendra (Rural Information Centre).

[Munira Morshed Munni]

Thanks Asad for this nice write up.
I think you can mention that PK means telecentre of D.Net
http://www.dnet.org.bd/