They defeat <i>monga</i> but fail to draw govt attention

Weavers working at a Benarasi factory at Habu in Gangachhara upazila in Rangpur district.Photo: STAR

They have defeated monga but could not draw government's attention that could spread their cottage industry to other areas and benefit the hardcore poor in vulnerable Teesta shoals.
About 400 families in Habu and five adjoining villages in Gajaghanta union in Gangachhara upazila in the district are self-reliant by producing Benarashi saree at their cottages.
About 2500 people including women, who were once agricultural day labourers, earn their living from the cottage industries set up without any financial helpeither from government, banks or any NGO.
But they are limping as the owners are entirely dependent on traders in Dhaka who earn the bulk profit depriving them. The traders supply them yarn on buyback terms, leaving no scope for the producers to bargain on prices.
"We need not to worry for food and work during monga. We work in Benarashi cottage industries in Habu," said carpenter Aftab Hosen.
He said the small cottage units are spread over adjoining Balarghat, Kharubhajha, Koipara, Rajabollove and Joydeb villages.
Abdur Rahman of Habu village was the pioneer.
He said, "People of these villages did not have work for six months a year before 1991. They passed their days amid hardship. Now they are self-reliant."
”I learnt the trade at a Benarashi factory in Mirpur in Dhaka and set up two looms at my cottage here in 1991," Rahman added.
He has 40 looms now. But he has to sell the product to traders in Dhaka on their terms as he does not have enough funds to buy yarn from market.
Rahman has formed as association of Benarashi weavers in the five villages.
Advisor of caretaker government Geeteeara Safia during her visit to village in July suggested them to register their association with Bangladesh Tath Board (handloom board) to get financial support.
"We have done it. But we do not see any move by the board for assistance." he lamented.
Grameen Bank and some other big NGOs including ASOD give loans but their interest rate is too high, he said.
"We requested them to collect monthly or quarterly installments but they (NGO officials) do not agree." If commercial banks give them loan on easy term, they may buy yarn and benefit more, Noormol suggested.
This correspondent also talked to the Gabgachara Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mokhesh Chandra Bishwas about their problems.
The UNO said, "We can not solve their problems overnight. Process is going on. The government will take up programmes for their training and funding."
The district administration held a meeting with them recently, he added.
Zonal Co-coordinator of ASOD, Sheraful Hosen, said he has introduced monthly repayment for weavers at Habu and adjoining to promote the cottage industry.