It is encouraging to note that the economic self-reliance achieved by rural women through their hard endeavour is empowering them in Gangadas Baraipara village in Sadar upazila in Rangpur. According to a report of this newspaper yesterday, most of the women have changed their fate with assistance of the government and non-government organisations utilising their capacities, potentials and local resources setting up a glaring example of difference saying good-bye to their poverty. The poor and distressed women of the village, inhabited by 62 poor households, are now confident about the future of their children because of achieved the economic success that also improved their livelihoods.

Women are engaged in activities like forestations, cultivating vegetables, potatoes, fruits and crops in the fallow lands, fish farming in the water bodies, rearing cows, poultry birds, honeybees, creating group savings and other income generation activities to lead better life now. Every family of the village is earning well through income generation activities, their children are now going to schools without dropouts and women are playing leading role in making decisions at family as well as local community levels. All these are positive signs.

Women constitute half of the total population of the country; development of the country greatly depends on them. But only numerical strength will not do if their participation in the mainstream development activities is not ensured. There is no denying the fact that they are going ahead defying various limitations confronting them.  Their exposure to the different sectors of life, particularly the RMG industry, has opened up a wide avenue for them. This has helped them achieve solvency for them and provide economic support to their families.   

There are immense possibilities for the young rural women to become self-reliant by engaging themselves in various income-generating activities. The unemployed educated young women should be imparted training, particularly on computer operating and ICT, throughout the country for expanding their job opportunities. Those who are not educated should be given training on poultry farming, cattle rearing and similar other jobs.  In this way the unemployment problem facing them can be solved greatly. Small women entrepreneurs should be provided with loans on easy terms and conditions.  The NGOs, community leaders, human rights’ activists and religious leaders can come forward for ensuring large-scale participation of women in the development process. If it is done they can contribute positively to GDP growth. For achieving the SDG there is no alternative to improving the lot of women in a massive way.