Over 50,000 women earn extra money to support families

Over 50,000 women in different upazilas of Magura and Jhenidah have engaged themselves in separating raw fibre from jute stalks and helping the family with their additional income.

Many girl students in the areas are also seen engaged in the job to help their families by earning some extra money during their holidays.

Sources at Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Magura and Jhenidah said about 40,600 women are engaged in the work in Magura and 10,750 in Jhenidah this season and earning Tk 250 to Tk 300 per day.

According to the DAE around 40,444 hectares of land have been brought under jute cultivation in four upazilas of Magura while 24,172 hectares were cultivated in six upazilas of Jhenidah in the current season.

A number of women and girls in the area said they can separate 100 bundles of jute (each bundle containing of 25 to 30 jute sticks) and earn Tk 250 to Tk 300 per day.

Anjana Rani of Rautara village in Magura Sadar upazila said, “It is quite impossible for my day labourer husband to run the family with his little income. I am doing the job to help my family by earning some extra money.”

Shefali Khatun of Gangnalia village in Sreepur upazila of the district said, “I earn Tk 300 per day by separating raw fibre which help my rickshaw puller husband to run our five-member family.

Sumi Khatun, a school student at Rautara in Magura Sadar upazila, said, she earns Tk 200 by separating the raw fibre in holidays which helps her buy pen, exercise books and pay tuition fees.

Deputy Director Partha Pratim Saha of Magura DAE said a good number of women and girls in the district are engaged in separating raw fibre from jute stalks and earning some additional money to help their families.