Women Empowerment

People living in rural peripheries, and especially women, shoulder the burden of the world's poverty. They have been deprived for too long from participating in the opportunities and benefits of economic growth and globalization.

Women and girls constitute Three-fifth of the worlds poor. Their poverty level is worse than that of men as clear gender disparities in education, employment opportunities and decision-making power exist.

Reducing urban-rural disparities and gender inequalities is a crucial element for any poverty reduction strategy. Mobilizing the potential productivity of rural people and particularly of women is indispensable to achieve the resilient economic growth that will pull people above the poverty line.

The International Jute Study Group (IJSG) is working for empowering women and upgrading their living standard through various projects and activities especially in the subcontinent. Recently, the IJSG organize a workshop on "Gender Sensitization in Jute Sector - Bangladesh" in its secretariat.

Workshop on Gender Sensitization in Jute Sector – Bangladesh

The International Jute Study Group (IJSG) organised an “Interactive Workshop: Gender Sensitization in Jute Sector – Bangladesh” in its Conference Room at 145, Monipuripara, Tejgaon (near Farmgate), Dhaka-1215 on Thursday, February 24, 2011.

Mr. Md. Ashraful Moqbul, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles and Jute, Government of Bangladesh inaugurated the day-long Workshop as the Chief Guest. Mr. Bhupendra Singh, the IJSG Secretary General was the Chairperson of the workshop.

Mr. Tariq-ul-Islam, Secretary, Ministry of Women & Children Affairs, Govt. of Bangladesh, Bibi Russel, Founder - Bibi Productions, UNESCO Special Envoy & Artist for Peace and UNAIDS Ambassador were present as Guests of Honour and addressed the inaugural Session.          

Ashraful Moqbul, Secretary,  ministry of Textiles and Jute, Govt. of Bangladesh

speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural session of the workshop

The main objective of the Workshop was to assemble women engaged in different capacities in the whole supply chain of jute sector from cultivation, post harvest activities, industrial processing, product manufacturing in organised / Small & Medium Enterprises (SME)/ handicraft sector, Research & Development up to marketing / trading, etc. to explore the contribution of women in the jute sector, challenges they face and weakness in the policy areas, and to raise awareness among the stakeholders about the contribution of all concerned in the development of the jute sector irrespective of gender. Many recommendations were obtained from deliberations and discussions/interactions among the participant. IJSG took note of the important observation/suggestion/recommendation and would develop action plan, programme and future strategies towards achieving one most important objective of IJSG – Woman Empowerment with the support of respective government.

Participants of the workshop

A large number of women participated in the workshop along with representatives from the Govt./policy level, industry, entrepreneurs, R&D Organisations, handicrafts and jute diversified sector etc.

Small-Scale Entrepreneurship Development in Diversified  Jute Products

Small Scale Entrepreneurship Development in Diversified Jute Products (CFC / IJSG / 18) has been a flag ship project sponsored by the International Jute Study Group (IJSG) and funded by the CommonbFund for Commodities (CFC).

A large number of very low income groups, especially rural poor and women in Bangladesh and India were benefited through this project. It has also increaseed demand for jute fibre / JDPs and generate additional employment and income for the rural and related urban areas.

A large number of new small entrepreneurs (especially women) have been developed under the project (1150 in India and 1420 in Bangladesh). The income of the beneficiaries who had very little /no income before joining the project has increased quite a lot. The entrepreneurs have started production and sale of JDPs and thus benefited.

3 JESCs, 3 RMBs, 3 Data Banks, 3 Design Banks, 3 Display Galleries, a project website have been set up in each India and Bangladesh apart from many Awareness, Skill development / Training / Design workshops, Buyers-Sellers Meets/ Exhibitions organized under the project.

Involvement of large no. of women entrepreneurs in production of JDPs contributed in creating employment opportuni-ties, income generation, poverty alleviation, and rural women empower-ment and thereby improvement of their socio-economic conditions.