Established in 2001, the centre serves as the point where the government and the community meet at the street level to work together for people's welfare.

Services such as early learning, social services, health services, poverty alleviation programmes such as small businesses, computer centre, business information centre, training, youth development and arts and cultural activities are provided at the centre. Many government departments provide their services at the centre.

Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) president and chief executive Kazi Rafiqul Alam said the Ganokendra has brought a real change to the lives of people. He said the residents of Belkathi showed they could achieve something meaningful and constructive in spite of their bad economic condition.

Initially, the Ganokendra was established for post-literacy purposes only. Gradually its role has been widened to cater to the diverse learning needs of the community as a whole.

The Ganokendra now plays the role of a village community centre with a library and facilities for recreation and other socio-cultural activities. The members also participate in regular discussions on issues of local interest. Additionally, the community in general uses the centre as its own place for reading and for economic and socio- cultural activities.

The Ganokendra initially served those completing adult and adolescent literacy courses. Subsequently, school dropouts and people with limited literacy skills have also become members. Ganokendras are now open to all members of the community in which they are located. Men, women and children are welcome to participate in the activities of a

Ganokendra. About 70 per cent of the beneficiaries are female.

There are 100 centres in Keshabpur upazila. DAM has launched 845 Ganokendras in remote areas of Narsingdi, Jhenidah, Jessore, Satkhira, Barguna, Jamalpur and Gazipur districts. About 3 lakh 69 thousand 125 people of 71,825 families are direct beneficiaries of Ganokendras. DAM has a plan to launch 2,380 Ganokendrasin four divisions by the year 2007, said DAM president Kazi Rafiqul Alam.

The general objective of organising a Ganokendra is to create facilities in the community for lifelong learning and community development.

A Ganokendra is organised and managed by groups of neo-literates themselves with back-up support from the DAM in collaboration with the local community. A facilitator recruited from the community initiates activities and manages the centre. This facilitator is typically a local woman who is responsible for the overall operation of the Ganokendra.

However, overall management is the responsibility of a committee comprising people of the community.

There is regular communication between the facilitator, management committee and DAM field staff, all of whom attend monthly management meetings at the Ganokendra.

The Ganokendra movement has had a significant impact on literacy levels and community development in Bangladesh. Participants in centres generally are concerned about their own and their community's development. The skills and knowledge that they gain improve their social status. Participants are able to raise their levels of income. They have more choices in the work that they do. The centres also play an important role in promoting equity and social justice, particularly for women.