Sustainable
Organization for Land Rights and Agrarian
Reform
(SOLAR)
Members
of Okura PO live on Khas Land (Government Land)
Bangladesh had one of the fastest rates of poverty
reduction in the world in the 1990’s during which time
there was a reduction from 43% to 34% of the population
below the lower poverty line. Since independence the
Human Development Index shows its increased rate from
0.3 to 0.5. However, despite this remarkable progress,
development is still too slow and it currently seems
likely that several of the Millennium Development Goals
(MDG’s) will not be achieved. The country remains near
the bottom in terms ranking of human development. It is
number 143 out of 174 nations in the world. A new
problem is also beginning to emerge in which inequality
is growing and sections of the population are in danger
of being left behind.
Households in drought prone areas in the North West of
Bangladesh suffer from regular food shortages and
illness. Poverty is more intense and widespread. Two
thirds of under 5’s are malnourished. Rural households
face yearly food
shortages
during September to November when illness related
expenditures are at their peak. More than 50% of the
poorest households reduce their food intake to 2 meals a
day during the lean periods. Bangladesh will not meet
the nutritional poverty target on the present trend.
One of the major reasons for food insecurity is lack of
availability of livelihoods. Primary income sources in
the North West are agricultural based. The majority of
the land is still in the hands of a few people. There is
no industrial base in the area except for a few sugar
mills. Households are dependent on selling their labor
when employment is available. A migration strategy is
pursued by many households in the North West due to the
low wage rates in the lean seasons (monga). Many people
now have access to savings and loans through NGO credit
systems which is helping families to acquire assets such
as housing and animals. However the hardcore poor are
still often excluded and there is a high level of child
labor caused by the need to supplement increase
household incomes.
PO members had rally on International Women's Day
2010
voicing
for Land Rights for Women
Since
its establishment CDA has worked with rural people,
especially the landless poor who are often less
benefited from mainstream development initiatives. CDA’s
SOLAR project aims to ensure accessibility to public
resources through awareness building of land rights
among the people, as well as facilitate sustainability
of the groups of People’s Organization. The project also
aims to facilitate the people to practice sustainable
land management which is quite important for rural
farmers to ensure natural resources in the
future.
For this aim, through the project CDA is providing PO
members issue-based trainings relating to land rights,
sustainable agriculture and sustainable organization as
well as providing legal aid supports.
Community Development Association
