Fatima Akhter, Shyamnagar, Satkhira
It is not a story of merely struggling through poverty, nor is it a tale of accumulating material possessions. Amola’s (61) story is sewn with sufferings, painted with plights, saturated with sorrows and soaked in tears. It’s a story of smile of victory against a life marked by excruciating poverty. It is the daily survival story of an elderly extreme poor couple who have to fishing with their broken boats and torn nets all day round in brackish water in the Chuna River in south-western coastal Shyamnagar upazilla of Satkhira district in Bangladesh just for a handful of food.
Amola Rani and her husband Supado Mondal (70), who lost their homes for three times due to river erosion, were compelled to live at Burgoalini-a shelter home built by government for people who lost their houses due to devastating cyclone Aila in 2009. They live here along with other unknown 100 families. Couple of years back, their only son migrated to India in search of work, leaving them in poverty and unsafe life which increases their misery. They married off their five daughters who are now living with husbands and children in different distant places. Hence, currently there is no one to look after them.
The old couple has to spend almost a day for fishing in the Chuna River, thereafter sold them in the local market for about maximum of BDT 100 which is insufficient at all to buy food for them. Moreover, due to government restrictions, fishing is prohibited for most of the months a year, adding to their sufferings. They were then forced to earn a living as a domestic workers or a daily wages labor on agricultural farm.
Amola then approached to the CSO (Civil society organization) named Moyna last year for help and shared her dismal financial condition, and finally got involved with the CSO. She received BDT of 125000 as livelihood supports provided by BARCIK- a partner NGO of NETZ-Bangladesh which she invested to buy fishing boat and net. The CSO now remained in close touch with the couple and provide them mental support. Thus, the couple has been successful in leading a dignified and respectful life today.
Amola Rani is now able to catch fish worth BDT 250-300 every day that enables them to access to meals three times a day. The couple no longer have to work as laborers on others farmlands or as domestic worker.
“PORIBESH project came to my rescue and helped me to overcome a very critical phase of my life by taking me back to my fishing roots. We will remain indebted to the project forever,” says Amola.
Relying on fishing nets and boats, this elderly couple is now dreaming of a new day.
Translated By
ABM Touhidul Alam
