Monthly Progress Report: April 2007
Activities conducted with regard to project in the last month:
On 25th April/07 I started for Chunati at 8.30 am and reached there at 10.30 am accordingly. First of all I talked with Mr. Basar who is training co-coordinator of Codec posted in Chanati for monitoring NSP performance. He is very good training coordinator. All the logistic training related with various aspects like vegetable cultivation, agricultural activities, motivational training he has been doing good performance related with NSP. Now he is very much associated with motivational training for FUG related with awareness campaign. He given some study materials related with awareness campaign for FUG as well as local villagers. Particularly he highlighted on eight selective topics which are the prescription thrown from head office of NSP. Addition to that other related campaign leaflet related with flood protection, fire protection etc. he shown for clear concept, which has been served from different project funded by UNDP.
Next I talked with Mr. Azad who has the key role of NSP performance for sector-1 under Chunati W/S. He told that at the very beginning people of Chunati had negative approach about NSP performance. They thought that by the inclusion of wildlife, people will be omitted from the w/s area for ever. But after performance of NSP, now such concepts are changed from their mind. They now have come up as helping hand for NSP performance. Regarding grant or any kind of logistic, they are still depriving because of either fund crisis or wrong selection method is applied for any kind of grant or logistic training for FUG up gradation.
Then after having launch, with the help of Mr. Nazmul, I started for Harbang beat along with Mr. Kabir who has the key role of NSP performance as FO. After discussion with him I selected Harbang beat for next day program. There I talked with beat officer named Mr. Abijit Borua who is in charge of forest rest house. I stopped at rest house as night hold. At night I made work plan for implementing next day program.
Accordingly I started work at 9.30 am on 26th April. First of all I traveled walk way for 1 and half km as transect way for viewing the nature scenario of west brindabon kil. I found some reserved area along with homestead land occupied by the local villagers as well as FUG members. Then I came back from forest and started personal interview with Mr. Karim Dad who is the leader of 22 FUG at Brindhabon Kil of Harbang Beat. He is 42 years of old and has been residing in this w/s since long years back. He reported that his wife is also a leader of Noa Bazar comprising 25 FUG members. They called their group name as Brindhabon Kil Nature Conservation Somiti. Sizes of his family members are in total 06. Mostly their literacy level is primary as he reported. Total land occupied by his homestead is below 1 ha. Fully 5 members are depend on his income. He is mainly a businessman and has a hotel management including tea stall. Addition to that he works on agricultural field & Vegetable cultivation works also. From NSP he got 2 days training on bamboo plantation including other plantation activities. Future strategies for livelihood maintenance are for establishing a grossary shop through loan support from NGO like Proshika, grameen Bank etc. Always he uses loan support from NGO since long years back for family’s betterment. Also he has domestic cow and other animals like hen for financial support as well as for protein or nutrition. In Brindhabon Kil so many NGO’s are working on micro credit like Grameen Bank, Proshika, Brac, Asha, Mukti etc. During the calendar year he is fully engaged him with agricultural works, Vegetable cultivation and business like tea stall hotel management. Being as a leader of NSP’s FUG, he undertakes activities for informing FUG for attending monthly meeting. Collects FUG for attending regular training on plantation program, use of organic fertilizer, properly, poultry establishment training and also some awareness program on different issues like water pollution, water filtering, flooding and necessary action for overcome the abundant or abnormal situation. There is no specific condition included from NSP for FUG membership as he told. He only reported that being as FUG nature conservation is the prime target for them and as a FUG, any body has the responsibility for that. He reported that per FUG only one leader exists, addition to that 9 members represent one federation group for all FUG. They should be the leader of each FUG. They have the responsibilities for each and every work under NSP claiming to FO. About selection of leader, he also reported that this is the open support of FUG, whose selection is maximum, he will be the leader of that group and normally he will be representative as a leader for 1 up to 2 years but in some cases leadership can change through the consultation between FUG and NSP authorities. About fire wood collection, he is not fully depending on forest. As per requirement he goes once a week and collect 20-25kg firewood for family consumption .He always prefer to go inside forest at early in the morning. He also reported that there is a market takes place at hargang bazaar which is 2km distance from Brindhabon Kil and twice a week market take place there and only the middle class family and also some other business man like Shaw mill owner comes for purchase. Per market only 1000 kg firewood take place for marketing and this is also in inside the w/s area. About energy supply, he reported that traditional chulla is higher fire consumption tools than improved chulla. But for installation of improved chulla, still decision is not made structured. Because of that at the beginning through the communication of FO, being as a leader he collected 150 taka per FUG for chulla installation but still the authority is not in a position for finalizing this matter. Then on that point I asked FO Mr. Kabir. He told that approximately 22-23 personal have got training for improved chulla installation from NSP support, they are excluded from FUG group members. Now they are ready to install such kind of chulla to all the villagers, even in other places of Chittagong, Cox’Bazar or Taknaf also. They do this installation on 600 taka advance payment as installation cost. Now this installation work will be done by negotiation between NSP and Grameen Sokti. But this kind of information is not served to FUG, even that they are not still aware of that situation. Though this is now a day is the burning issue to them because of less consumption of firewood. So in the long run it will provide monetary support to the FUG. So if there could make arrangement a special training on improved chulla through the Garman Technology initiation, then FUG will be happy for that.
After having 1.15 hours interview with him we started for Goal Mara village by bus. 10 minutes journey by bus we reached at the residence of Monoara Begum who is FUG only of that Goal Mara nature conservation somiti. She is 40 years old and has big size of family members comprises 09 members. Literacy level is very much poor. She is housewife and fully depends on husband. Being as a head of family, her husband is very much cooperative. He is basically landowner and agricultural job he does. He also like vegetable cultivation works at his homestead. Addition to that he is the member of answer, VDP, forest protection he likes very much. For the sake of forest he has the argument about selection of patrolling group members under NSP. Because of that since from long he is the residence of that w/s, by name he knows the person who are mainly involve with illegal performance and now they are involved as a member of patrolling group. There should be made decision for changing such kind of members he complained. He liked best as voluntary service regard with forest protections or any other social works. He has own pond inside his residence. But for shortage of fund he is now not in a position for installing fishing. He is also depending on NGO loan for family maintenance. During 12 calendar months he engaged himself with two season paddy cultivation in his own land and also in support of others land like borga. All seasonal vegetables he cultivates for his family consumption and also markets them to the local market. Being as a member of FUG, his wife sometime attend meeting if get information. But she reported that the leader of that group does not communicate them properly in time. As a result, maximum time she can not attend meeting even still she did not get any training from NSP, though she has an experience on cap making and net making. From her grant mother, she learned for making such kind of making. She also told that since earlier generations to generation they are absolutely depend on homestead forest instead of w/s forest for consumption. They never been gone inside forest even for a single leaf collection also. About improved chulla, they have an idea or got information that such kind of chulla has better service. But in practical, they did not see that improved chulla. At 12 pm I started interview with them and finished that at 1.00 pm.
Then at the same place and also in the same group, leader Khaleda Begum came at her residence. She is the group leader but being as leader she did not come in front of us. Because of her conservative mode, we made interview with her from one corner to another. From one corner I asked questions, translator Mr. Kabir made it in local ctg language and by that way I collected data from her. She is 34 years old as reported but I could not see her. Husband is illiterate and has daily labor works, all other’s have primary education. She has training from NSP on seed, nursery raising and plantation activities. Addition to that from Surjer Hashi NGO, she got training on health service. Lastly she got training on nutrition from SHED (Society for health extension & development) and that was 18 days long program, she attended. She has livestock (4 domestic cows) on borga for financial support. Currently she makes pusti package and sell it on 3 taka per packet and minimize family running cost. Some times she gets loans on short scale from NGO. Being as a FUG, she has the activities performed accommodation of FUG and inspire or attending meeting on workshop, training etc. She also reports that there is not any specific condition for membership. Basically fire protections, save environment, wildlife conservation are the pre-condition for membership. About FUG existence, she also reported that leader workshop, federation work, apex body of federation group still alive in the NSP comprises 09 members. She has little bit of firewood dependence for family consumption. About improved chulla, she also reported the advantage of improved chulla and immediate such chulla is necessary for installation to every FUG.
Then at 2.00 pm we came back to Goal Mara by 15 minutes walk. There we talked with another Khaleda Begum, secretary of Shapala group comprises 30 FUG in that group. She is Madrasha Student at degree level. Comparatively she is good communicator and her family members like mother & father are less conservative compare with other. She has regular access with NSP office. For motivational training she always encourage her group members for reducing their pressure on forest, awareness buildup about particular lession, regularly she try to under take FUGs concept clear about topic. They have matal house and also happy with her husband. Always she tries to make improve their life style. She knows swinging and also has training on vegetable cultivation works and teaching profession experience. About improve chulla she has an idea of that and her family will try to install that at own cost, because of it is economy. This interview was continued upto 3.30pm on that day.
Next I faced with Mr. Bazal Kabir (Babul) at 5.30 pm on 26th April/07 after having launch who is responsible for Charpara Somiti. But he does not know what to be done as a team leader, though his group comprises 20 FUG members. He reported that earlier leader is absent or gone somewhere else, so FO, Mr Kabir given him leadership for Charpara village. Even he does not know what to do as a leader for other FUG members. At the same time he is leader of patrolling group comprises 6 members in his group. Basic objectives of patrolling group as he reported that fire protection, forest conservation, and wildlife conservation. Per member get 40 taka for tea only. They patrol only at nighttime from 8pm to 3.30 pm. He also reported that no FD officials patrol at nighttime. After having daylong program I stayed again in the same rest house of FD for night hold.
At early in the morning (9am) of 27th April/07 I started for West Brindhaban Kil. There I faced Mr. Ledu MIA who is FUG member of that village. He is also illiterate and big size of family. Professionally he is day labor in agricultural field. Addition to that he is also a member of patrolling group. Family is fully needy. He got 5000/- taka as grant from NSP. About activities of FUG, he does not know enough, what to do. Only knows about fire protection, forest protection, and wildlife conservation campaign of NSP. About improved chulla, he also reported it to other respondents.
Next I came back to Taju Mia who is also the neighbor of him. He is aged illiterate person. He is also FUG of West Brindhabon kil. Family size is big and fully depend on him as a result he wants more grant from NSP or any other organization. About activities of FUG, still he does not know anything, what he needs to do.
Problems encountered problems resolved
This time I faced major problem in drinking water and also supply of water, food at different rural places and also at rest house. This is also the addition of transportation problem in the rural area. So locally it is solved with the help of local FD staffs & also villagers of that particular area. Due to shortage of time I did 7 questionnaire data collection from seven respondents at sector -5. Rest of the same will interview on next immediate date.
Future steps/next actions
Next step is planning for visit sector -2 and rest of sector -5 for primary data collection and also collect information from key informant of NSP performance.
Any changes from proposal
Primary data is being collecting step by step on sect oral basis. Sector-5 is selected first, because of availability of rest house and also less distance. Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary comprises 5 sectors for implementing NSP performance. Out of 5 sectors 3 sectors are stand at Chunati Beat, 1 sector is at Harbang Beat and another 1 sector is at Agignagar Beat. So for collecting primary data, still almost equal ratio will be applied on the basis of the availability of the respondents into 5 sectors. Any change need further, and then always it will be informed.
No comments:
Post a Comment