Abstract
Abstract
This is a brief and partial description of SETU, a non-government organisation in Bangladesh. It includes the author’s observations and social development activities of SETU. Inspired by the work of the SETU, it suggests further systematic research and documentation of development activities of SETU.
Keywords
During the 7th International Consortium for Social Development Asia Pacific biennial conference on ‘Social Unrest, Peace and Social Development’, hosted by the Department of Social Welfare, Islamic University, Bangladesh, 14–15 September 2019, in recognition of its work, the International Consortium for Social Development (ICSD) Asia Pacific branch conferred a Distinguished Social Development Practitioner award on SETU, a non-government organisation (NGO) working in Bangladesh since 1983. The term SETU means bridge. On the occasion of receiving the award, I was very pleased to meet M. A. Quader, Executive Director (ED) of SETU, who kindly invited all conference participants to visit his organisation in Kushtia. During the visit, in the rented conference room of the organisation on the 9th floor, we were introduced to SETU and a range of social development programmes and services delivered by it for the local-level people and communities in Bangladesh.
Social Development Projects Implemented by SETU
Currently, its social development programmes/projects include poverty alleviation, health, education, promoting science education in secondary schools, disaster management, campaigning the sustainable development goals, agent banking, digitalisation of SETU, agriculture and livestock development, safe migration, farmer-to-farmer for food security, participatory forestry, environmental sanitation, arsenic mitigation, mainstreaming the disabled people, technological development through ICT, strengthening climate justice, river basin development, national domestic biogas and manure, democracy education, rights and governance, tax justice and peoples’ participation, youth animation, social rehabilitation for senior citizens, community learning movement, preventing the worst form of child labour, nutrition education, STD/HIV/AIDS prevention, anti-trafficking movement, cultural action for social transformation, civil society mobilisation and community learning centre (SETU, 2017, 2018).
While introducing and discussing these programmes, Quader informed us that his village is just 10 kilometres away from Kushtia town. Following the conclusion of the orientation to SETU, while we were all leaving the room, I gently expressed to the ED that I am interested in visiting his village and see where the action really takes place and also interested in visiting a Union Parishad office at the grassroots to see how it looks (as it is difficult to understand how it operates in a brief visit). The ED kindly agreed to take me to both places. First, he took me in his vehicle to a SETU office and introduced me to some staff members and we had lunch together. I asked for further details of the organisation, which was readily printed and given to me.
We began our journey towards his village in his chauffeur-driven car. Another SETU official also accompanied with us. On the way, the ED indicated to me where another SETU office is located. After about half an hour or so, when the vehicle stopped, I thought we have arrived at his village, but we walked into the Union Parishad office, where I was introduced to the deputy chair of the Parishad and the secretary, who is a government employee. Union Parishad is the lowest tier of local government institution (equivalent to gram panchayat/ institution of local self-governance in India), which is vested with the responsibility of delivering services to people and communities in villages. According to Islam (2017),
It is the only institution to ensure good governance, development planning, implementation, transparency, and accountability for rural areas in Bangladesh. The latest Local Government (UP) Act 2009 has created an opportunity to ensure greater participation of the people in the process of development planning and implementation.
That is why my interest gravitates to it. But, I was conscious of not asking any questions as it is inappropriate to enter the office and begin shooting questions. I was keen to observe. However, some conversation cannot be avoided. I had to politely decline the offer of tea. It was heartening to know that Union Parishad elected members and the secretary work cooperatively. Lot of government benefits are administered through the Union Parishad office, including access to computers and emails (see Figure 1). Informal court system seems to be active and busy with land disputes and relationship and marriage issues. The court is allowed to decide issues that have below a particular level of pecuniary value.
It was important to note that although available benefits and services are relevant, they are not enough to meet the current demands of people. Before we left this office, the secretary observed that in her career, this is the first time someone like me has visited the office, showing interest in what they are doing.
Before we got into the car, Quader kindly asked me whether I would like to drink milk, which I gently declined. Narrow and somewhat windy roads led to the village. In the village SETU office, I was quickly introduced to staff members and taken to a room where already about 40 women had gathered, some with their young babies (see Figure 2). I felt somewhat guilty that they were specially gathered for my visit. The ED and I sat facing them and we had an interesting question and answer session. The ED translated our conversation both ways. I told them that I was very happy to be there and to see the work of SETU in the field. Despite their living conditions, their faces looked happy and their bright eyes were full of hope. They told us the range of services they receive from SETU for a long time and how satisfied they were with SETU. On a prompt, I asked them what other services they need or would like to receive, though I was in no position to provide them and I was conscious that they may misunderstand me that I am there to offer something. Their three expressed demands/needs were insightful, instructive and appeared genuine. First, they asked for a college in their locality as their children everyday had to spend 60 takas per head on transport to commute to Kushtia to attend to college education. Second, they need a qualified doctor to attend to their health needs and issues, but they do not have access to them. Third, they are looking for some home-based employment or income-generating activities. Following this meeting, while having snacks with staff members along with coconut water, I discovered that a few staff members have been working there since the establishment of the organisation.
Then the ED took me to his own house where he lived and introduced me to his relatives. I spoke with his niece, who was studying economics in a college in Kushtia. Again, a quick fruit snack was arranged and I was introduced to two new fruits, Spondias pinnata (amra in Bangla) and Grapefruit (jambura in Bangla).
As dusk was approaching fast, we quickly drew to a nearby village to see primary and secondary schools, where initially, the ED had worked as volunteer teacher without any salary for five years. Now a new school building is being built to meet the growing demand for education (see Figure 3), and it has the potential to begin providing college education. I was also introduced to current and retired teachers of the school and some of them were original founding members of SETU. Near to the school, I was introduced to SETU’s agent bank under the Standard Bank Ltd. Although SETU has permission to open eight agent banks, it is experimenting with the first one. As at nearby villages there are no banks, people are finding this bank useful, and banks staff members enthusiastically told me that they have around 500 savings accounts so far. These two banks staff members were the graduates of the same school, where the ED had taught for five years.
The ED informed me that at these villages, about 50 per cent Hindus resided, but now their number has come down to about 30 per cent. When Babri Mosque in the city of Ayodhya, India, was demolished in 1992, the ED recollects how people were very scared and contemplating to sell their lands and leave the place. The ED advised them to remain calm for a few weeks and things will come back to normalcy. When people approached him to buy their house and land, the ED advised them that if they wish to sell they can do that later, but now they can stay safely.
The ED (see Figure 4) has completed his college degree from Kushtia and later MBA by attending evening classes from Islamic University, Bangladesh. Currently, SETU has 500 staff members and all employees are given free lunch and some are also given accommodation. He also has plans to provide them motorbikes in place of bicycles so that they can reach villages faster. A new office building is under construction in Dhaka and he invites to visit it when it is ready. Currently, SETU is working with United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. SETU also offers internships for students. The ED expressed interest in collaborating with the ICSD in mutually beneficial projects. During this brief visit, I was immensely impressed with Quader’s hospitability and openness, and SETU’s contribution to development at the grassroots level. It appears to address many dimensions of local-level social development (Pawar, 2014) towards a comprehensive development of villages. On hindsight, I should have explored, at least to some extent, how NGOs and Union Parishads work together. Admittedly, this note is based on a quick visit and initial impressions. To gain a deeper understanding and to effectively disseminate SETU’s work, further research and documentation is needed.
Footnotes
Declaration of Conflicting Interests
The author declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship and/or publication of this article.
Funding
The author received no financial support for the research, authorship and/or publication of this article.
