Asadul Islam, from Asashuni, Satkhira
Dipali Rani lives next to the dam of Kholpetua River in Sadar Union of Satkhira Asashuni Upazila. She was leading a happy and sufficient life and livelihood until the advent of climate induced disaster named Aila in 2009. After Aila hit the coastal area Dipali Rani lost almost all her sources of income and led a vulnerable life. The cyclone destroyed her house and damaged crops in the field. She and her family members made an attempt to overcome all the stresses and losses but when she is almost to find a sufficient life once again a cyclone called Ampan hit the area in 2020. The cyclone Ampan also damaged their house and crop lands and shattered their dream of a sufficient life. However, in spite of these adversities Dipali Rani along with her husband try to overcome the trying situation through taking various initiatives.
Dipali Rani has a family members of 5 including her husbands. She has got the marriage of her 2 daughters and the youngest one is studying in standard seven. They have only 5 decimal of homestead lands and her husband Kamal Chandra Sardar does agricultural work on other’s land. When the climate induced disasters like Aila and Ampan did the rampage and damaged everything having no other means Dipali did get involve in a fisheries as a day labor to help her husband earning bred. But she found it difficult to work in salty water. She once fell into despair thinking on how she could contribute to increase the family income. However, she did not stop working. She planted various vegetables including papaya in a small area of the house and sold the vegetable in the market after meeting her family demand. The small income though did not solve her problem immediately but showed her a ray of hope that if she cultivates vegetable in a large scale she can play vital role to eradicate their poverty.
With the hope to lead an economically solvent and happy life Dipali Rani got involved with BARCIK in 2021. BARCIK facilitates a project in the area with the financial support from NETZ Partnership for Development and Justice. Dipali Rani got involved as beneficiary of the livelihood project. She was assisted BDT 13,500 from the project with the objective to improve her livelihood. With the one support from BARCIK Dipali opened a grocery shop in her own house and started rearing livestock. Dipali Rani was successful in running a grocery shop and raising poultry. With the profit from the grocery shop, she started to cultivate Soul fish in small ponds of her house. Besides, rearing livestock has enabled her to add some cash in her savings. She now has 15 ducks.
Dipali Rani also farms diverse vegetable and crops in her homestead lands such as papaya, gourd, pumpkin, Bindweed, beans, rice pumpkin, ladies finger, arum in an organic way. Running grocery shop, rearing livestock and farming vegetable Dipali Rani now is able to contribute in eradicating their poverty. She is now happy with what she has done to improve their livelihoods. She said, ‘Now I am happy because I can earn and contribute in my family. The cyclones Aila and Ampan really made our life difficult. But the support we received from BARCIK has helped us to overcome all the difficulties. We extend gratitude and thanks to BARCIK for its support and assistance.”
Dipali also said that the project which is known to them as ‘Poribesh’ has changed her fortune. She is replicating the learning that she gathered participating in different trainings arranged by BARCIK to improve her livelihood. Dipali Rani said that she does not have any hardship now rather she can save some amount cash every month.
Translated by Silvanus Lamin
