Bangladesh, a small country with a little territory but it has a large population of around 13 million of whom 67 percent are landless. About 80 percent of them are mostly dependent on agriculture for their livelihood and employment. With an average per capital income of US $ 220 Bangladesh ranks among the poorest countries in the world though now it is called the developing country.
The largest segments of rural woman are engaged in agricultural production and related activities. Its economy is an agro- based on which suffers from devastating natural calamities almost every year in the country exact a great magnitude of lives and crops, especially flood of 1974,1988,1998 and cyclone of 1991 took a heavy toll of lives and property, With a view to improving the quality of people the Govt. of Bangladesh has embarked upon massive development programs throughout the country, NGO s have also been contributing a lot specially in achieving empowerment of the poor and women, poverty elimination, democratization process ensuring good governance towards sustainable development. With a same view, Sramajibi’s efforts are being continued to alleviate the sufferings and poverty of the poor and distressed.
Sramajibi-O-Dustha Kallyan Sangstha (SDKS) is one of the apex Non- government organizations of north- Bengal in Bangladesh. It came into existence in the period of the devastating flood of 1988 as relief and social welfare organization. Later on, it starts to work with the view of rights- based approach. Now Sramajibi is a non- government development organization who dreams of a society where most of the people become an organized force and struggle for their rights and meaningful social change. Sramajibi believes in working together in a spirit of mutual trust and equality for proper human development. The organization also believes on non- directive, bottom-up, target group oriented and participatory development approach and acts as a catalyst its concerned people.
The head office of Sramajibi is located (beside the Dhaka- Pabna highway/ Nagarbari- Bogra highway) at Chakla village under Bera Upazila of Pabna district, which is 12 km North of Nagarbari ferry ghat and 100 km away from Dhaka (By the Jamuna bridge, Sirajgong, SDKS Chakla and Bera office is located around 40 km in the Sourthern from the Jamuna bridge and Bogra road transit point).
SDKS is operating its activities in the Districts of Pabna, Sirajgonj and Dhaka Metropolitan areas. This organization already has made a survey in the Char Land and different places of Manikgong District for immediate intervention.
General committee of 21 members who bring many years of experience in different development sector governs Sramajibi. An elected executive committee of 7 member’s guidance policy and program decision through the regular boat meeting. The executive committee meets annually and EC quarterly. A more experienced and professional staff team headed by the executive director is responsible materializing policy decisions and palling implementing and managing SDKS programs and activities. SDKS has experience staff members who are very much sincere, honest and dedicated according to organizational expectation. The activities implemented by a staff of 70 members headed by the Executive Director, who is accountable to the Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee of Sramajibi-O-Dustha Kallyan Sangstha, responsible for making policy decision and strategic management consists of 07 members directly elected by the 21 general members. The Executive committee is the supreme decision making organ of the organization. Executive director is the secretary of this executive committee. The EC members sit quarterly to formulate, finalize and observe implementation of the policy by the staff team. All staffs implement their own activity incorporation with the Executive Director of this organization.
The Accounts system of the organization is very well followed and maintains strict rules and disciplines following the accounts manual of SDKS. The executive committee verifies the accounts frequently. Every year the recognized audits the accounts of the organization. Executive director make sure the close monitor and regular checking and approve the final voucher and expenditure of the organization.
Bank account operates by three signatory of SDKS. First one signatory Executive director second one organizational Treasurer and third one Executive committee member. Chaque signatory is two operators. Executive Director Signatory is must and second one another two signatory for money drown from bank. SDKS general account operate in Sonali Bank branch of Koramja Bazar at Bera upzilla under Pabna district.
Name of the Account: Sramajibi-O- Dustha Kalyan Sangstha.
Current A/C No: 4120001003767.
The largest segments of rural woman are engaged in agricultural production and related activities. Its economy is an agro- based on which suffers from devastating natural calamities almost every year in the country exact a great magnitude of lives and crops, especially flood of 1974,1988,1998 and cyclone of 1991 took a heavy toll of lives and property, With a view to improving the quality of people the Govt. of Bangladesh has embarked upon massive development programs throughout the country, NGO s have also been contributing a lot specially in achieving empowerment of the poor and women, poverty elimination, democratization process ensuring good governance towards sustainable development. With a same view, Sramajibi’s efforts are being continued to alleviate the sufferings and poverty of the poor and distressed.
Sramajibi-O-Dustha Kallyan Sangstha (SDKS) was established on March 1, 1988. The organization was formed on the initiative of Nasir Uddin Moynul, Prior General secretary (Tread Union Leader), Calico Cotton Mills Staff Worker’s Union, Pabna, Bangladesh. Also a number of other like-minded social workers have helped him to take the organization forward.
In 1988, there was a terrible flood disaster in Bangladesh. The floods of that year inundated a large area including the char areas of the river Jamuna in Pabna district of Bangladesh.
At that time, a group of volunteers led by Nasir Uddin Moynul, founding president of the organization, rescued the helpless waterlogged people from the flood-hit areas by boat along with their livestock and provided them temporary shelter in various places including the flood control dam. At that time, various types of food aid were provided to 1,326 flood affected people at the initiative of the volunteers of the organization SDKS . Through this, the organization begins its program of service, development and establishment of rights for marginalized people.
In 1995 the organization was first assisted by an international donor called Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) in implementing the Long Term Development Program (LTDP) through the South-Asia Partnership, Bangladesh. In that year BRAC launched a children’s education program that has been running for 18 consecutive years. Subsequently, development activities for poor men and women, children, youth and the underprivileged have been implemented in phases with the help of various local and international donors.
Notable among them are BRAC, ActionAid, Proshika, NGO forum, Concern, CDS, Giz, and Govt. Department of Forest, Directorate of Woman affairs , ICT Division etc. We are sincerely grateful to all the organizations that have assisted SDKS to work for the betterment of the poor.