According to the understanding of BARCIK, a pluralistic society is a diverse one, where the people in it believe in all kinds of different things and tolerate each other’s beliefs even when they don’t match their own. A pluralistic society ensures the equal participation of both men and women in all sorts of family and society levels’ decision-making process that relate their life and livelihood. It also ensures and encourages democratic cultures and practices among the people in the society either they are men or women. This society ensures social justice and paves way for the emergence of enlightened citizens. On the other hand, an inclusive society is a society that over-rides differences of race, gender, class, generation, and geography, and ensures inclusion, equality of opportunity as well as capability of all members of the society to determine an agreed set of social institutions. BARCIK thinks an inclusive society is that environment where every member of society, no matter what his or her economic resources, political status, or social standing, must be treated equally under the law.
BARCIK believes in a pluralistic and inclusive society and wants to facilitate community people practicing democratic cultures and norms. However, it is not an easy job to contribute in establishing a pluralistic and inclusive society. The terminologies ‘Pluralism’ and ‘Inclusion’ are broad concepts and it requires the supports and assistances of other social actors to make the practices of this society a reality.If the characteristics of pluralistic and inclusive society prevail in any given society people of those society respect each other views, include everyone in their journey towards development & progress. The people in this society enjoy harmonized relationship where all forms of violence are absent.
Nonetheless, BARCIK through its different activities has been making efforts to encourage community people practicing democratic norms in their family and society level which is one of the perquisites of pluralistic and inclusive society. In doing so, the organization facilitated dialogues, trainings, intergenerational conference; seminar on cultural discrimination & social conflict ensuring the participation of both men and women including the young generation. Besides, the organization organized campaigns to ensure quality education, reduce violence against women and girls as well as publishes different publications both print and digital to persuade the policymakers and create mass opinion on formulating policies and guidelines that safeguard women and girls and promote their rights and access. Additionally, BARCIK facilitates education facilities, resources and economic supports for the marginal communities such as differently abled people, senior citizens, Dalit, indigenous communities and third gender. The objective of this facilitation to ensure the inclusion of these people in overall development initiatives of the private and public organizations.
As result of the constant facilitation made by BARCIK people in its working areas are now comparatively have better understanding on social justices and democratic norms which are important for establishing pluralistic and inclusive society. They try to allot space for women and girls in daily family affairs and decision making process. On the other hand, youth and other social actors (representatives of social and cultural organizations) get involved in campaigns to stop violence against women, girls, and other life forms. This resulted in the declined women and girls violence in the working areas of BARCIK. Additionally, the youth get involved in campaigns for eradicating illiteracy, reduce the number of drop out students, the community people are encouraged and motivated to send their kids to schools. Thus, poor households have access to public and private services and facilities. Their access to those services and facilities enables them to develop a realization on the importance of pluralism and democratic practices in society. Additionally, the issues of marginal communities such as differently able people, senior citizens, Dalit, indigenous communities and third gender are discussed and these people today do enjoy access to different services and facilities provided under the social safety net of the state.
Another aspect of the intention to contribute in establishing pluralistic and inclusive society is that this society firmly considers women issues and allows spaces for women to take initiatives for addressing their problems by themselves. BARCIK discussed gender issue in different meetings and dialogues by which the important messages of gender roles, issues and development are shared to wider audience and policymakers. Thus, it has been seen that representatives of local elected bodies, local administration and farmers’ realizing the importance of women contribution in overall aspects of development did try to ensure friendly environment for women to continue their efforts for solving their problems and improving their livelihood.
BARCIK hopes if such women and girl friendly environment prevails in its working areas someday the organization could have the ability to initiate a greater alliances and network which will educate the general mass and persuade the state authority to formulate guidelines and policies that accelerate the journey towards establishing pluralistic and inclusive society where all human-beings are respected irrespective of their races, classes, sex and religions.