Jhenidah

25 training centres remain abandoned

A total of 25 public auditoriums in Jhenidah, established by the Department of Social Services (DSS) for the training of rural women, have been left abandoned for over two decades, resulting in their decay and gradual ruination. According to sources in the DSS, 25 buildings had been built between 1981 and 1984 for imparting various kinds of training to village women in four upazilas of the district.

Among them, 15 were constructed in Kotchandpur upazila, four in Moheshpur, and three in Harinakundu and Shailkupa upazilas each.

Most of the tin-shed buildings have land areas of 15–16 decimals. People donated the  land in the hope that their sacrifice would facilitate the training of village women in different fields and enable them to earn some money.

Under a project titled ‘Pally Matri Prashikkhonkendra’, impoverished girls and women in the upazilas were given training for four to five years.

The trainees were also given loans on easy terms to earn money for themselves by applying the skills they had acquired.

Besides making some dresses for their family members, many of these girls and women were engaged in doing needlework for their neighbours.

Those who took the training at these centres were able to financially contribute to their hard-up families, easing pressure on their husbands.

As a result, some of the centres became popular. A market was even named ‘Samaj Kallyan Bazar’ in Kotchandpur upazila after one of these public auditoriums.

But the buildings were left abandoned after the projects ended. Once vibrant, most of them have now turned into safe havens for insects and mice.

Besides, two of the training centres in Kotchandpur upazila have been illegally occupied.

Robiul Islam, UP member of Fulbari village under Boluhar union of Kotchandpur upazila, told this correspondent that he could clearly remember the scene that prevailed 25 years ago. He had seen DSS trainers giving training to rural girls at that time.

“Women and girls in the upazilas benefited from the training. But girls of the present generation do not know what these public buildings were meant for,” Robiul added.

Now, two families are living beside the Fulbari training centre. A woman, Momotaz Khatun, is living with her family on one side of the building, while Alauddin lives on the other side.

When contacted, Mohammad Mominur Rahman, district social services officer (in-charge), said: “If the public auditoriums of the district could be used as training centres again, young girls and women would be amply benefited.”

“Different types of training programmes for women and young girls are available these days,” he added.

 

 

Jhenidah

25 training centres remain abandoned

A total of 25 public auditoriums in Jhenidah, established by the Department of Social Services (DSS) for the training of rural women, have been left abandoned for over two decades, resulting in their decay and gradual ruination. According to sources in the DSS, 25 buildings had been built between 1981 and 1984 for imparting various kinds of training to village women in four upazilas of the district. Among them, 15 were constructed in Kotchandpur upazila, four in Moheshpur, and three in Harinakundu and Shailkupa upazilas each. Most of the tin-shed buildings have land areas of 1516 decimals. People donated the land in the hope that their sacrifice would facilitate the training of village women in different fields and enable them to earn some money. Under a project titled Pally Matri Prashikkhonkendra, impoverished girls and women in the upazilas were given training for four to five years. The trainees were also given loans on easy terms to earn money for themselves by applying the skills they had acquired. Besides making some dresses for their family members, many of these girls and women were engaged in doing needlework for their neighbours. Those who took the training at these centres were able to financially contribute to their hard-up families, easing pressure on their husbands. As a result, some of the centres became popular. A market was even named Samaj Kallyan Bazar in Kotchandpur upazila after one of these public auditoriums. But the buildings were left abandoned after the projects ended. Once vibrant, most of them have now turned into safe havens for insects and mice. Besides, two of the training centres in Kotchandpur upazila have been illegally occupied. Robiul Islam, UP member of Fulbari village under Boluhar union of Kotchandpur upazila, told this correspondent that he could clearly remember the scene that prevailed 25 years ago. He had seen DSS trainers giving training to rural girls at that time. Women and girls in the upazilas benefited from the training. But girls of the present generation do not know what these public buildings were meant for, Robiul added. Now, two families are living beside the Fulbari training centre. A woman, Momotaz Khatun, is living with her family on one side of the building, while Alauddin lives on the other side. When contacted, Mohammad Mominur Rahman, district social services officer (in-charge), said: If the public auditoriums of the district could be used as training centres again, young girls and women would be amply benefited. Different types of training programmes for women and young girls are available these days, he added.