Womenfolk playing vital role in rural economy thru’ my Farm scheme
BSS
It is not possible to make economy of any country prosperous through only urban development. So equal development of rural and urban areas is a must for overall development including economy of any country.If we look at the developing countries of the world, it is seen that their rural economy is very strong. And females are playing an important role than the males in strengthening the rural economy.Thanks to the government’s policy of equal development of rural and urban areas, many people are contributing to the country’s economy,
especially rural economy, after leaving the towns.Ayesha Khatun of Bilaichhari in Bandarban is such a woman. She came to Dhaka few years back after holding the hands of her friend Shaheda. As she
wished to help her parent, she took a job at a garment factory in the beginning. Her salary was Taka 7,000 at that time.
Though Ayesha worked as a helper in the factory first, she learned sewing work slowly. After two-year work in this way, her salary increased to Taka 8,500. After sending Taka 4000 to home, she struggled to arrange foodand accommodation with the remaining money.Then, she decided to return to her Bilaichhari village in Lama upazila.
After going there, Ayesha took training on cutting cloth with the assistance
of an NGO. After the three-month training, she herself started sewing work in
her house after purchasing sewing machines.Though she first struggled to get customers, her reputation spread
gradually. Since then, Ayesha did not need to look backward.Ayesha bore all expenses of her marriage and before it she bought two battery-run rickshaws for her younger brother with her deposited money.Like Ayesha, many women are going back to their own villages after
leaving towns and they are trying to be self-reliant by earning money to a
some extent. According to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the rate of women participation in labour force is more at villlages than towns. The position of the females in labour force in the towns in 1995-96 was 20.5 percent
against 17.4 percent at villages. Till 2003, the rate was higher in urban areas.
The latest 2016-17 statistics, the rate rose to 38.6 percent at
villages. On the other hand, it declined to 31 percent at villages. Sixty
percent of women engaged in rural labour force are working in agriculture
sector.