Magura women quietly being lifted out of poverty

Shibani Biswas from Kachundi village has been able to completely turn her life around, from occasionally having to beg for food to earning enough to feed her family and her neighbours. On January 2015 she enlisted with the Vulnerable Group Development Programme (VGD) which is under Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs and Ministry of Food & Disaster Management and implemented by Rova foundation. The VGD gives rice for free which previously cost Shibani at least Tk1000 per month. She was able to save Tk5000 in four months and received training on how to farm by Rova Foundation. Rova also gave her an interest free loan of Tk12,000 to lease some land to cultivate gourd. Not only did this help her become solvent but increased her own capital to Tk17,000 with profits she made from selling the gourd. Executive Director of Rova Foundation Kazi Kamruzzaman told the Dhaka Tribune that more than 3000 VGD cards have been distributed to ultra poor women in Magura Upazila. “They also get skills training and interest free loans for up to three years. “More than 200 ultra poor women are now solvent in the upazila now,” he said. Shibani harvests gourd and paddy on her land with a profit of Tk100,000 this year. “I used to have to beg for food and money just to survive. Now I can feed my family have some savings and help those in need just like me,” she said. Fatema Johora, district women affairs officer was very proud of Shibani's success: “She is a model citizen. We are very proud of her here and how she fought out of poverty.” Sajida Begum from Borai Village, Parul Begum from Utholi village have also reported success from the VGD and Rova Foundation's program. Vulnerable Group Development (VGD) is World Food Program's largest empowerment and poverty reducing activity that exclusively targets ultra-poor rural women worldwide.  In Bangladesh it is being implemented by the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs and Ministry of Food & Disaster Management. It identifies ultra-poor women trapped in the vicious cycle of hunger, poverty and vulnerability; and provides a vital food ration that enables them to participate in activities that would otherwise be beyond their reach. It also enables the poorest and the most disadvantaged women and their family members in rural Bangladesh to sustainably overcome food insecurity and low social and economic status. VGD card holders are able to improve the quality of their life and enhance the productive income generating opportunities.