Press Report.from Epaper

Manual, Poster and Flyer published

Three publications produced under the project, ‘Strengthening the voice of the women tea plantation workers and their communities to enhance their social protection and rights’ with support from Canada Fund for Local Initiative (CFLI)

Life Skills Manual: A 96-page life skills manual, চা বাগানে নারীর সুরক্ষায় জীবন দক্ষতা সহায়িকা (Manual on Life Skills for Protection of Women in Tea Gardens), has been published for use in life skills training sessions for women tea workers and adolescents. The eight sections for conduct of eight sessions of the life skills manual are:  (1) The condition of women, inequality they face and violence against them. (2) Representation and participation of women in trade union and panchayet (community council in each garden). (3) Appalling inequality in employment, wages and other benefits that women of the tea gardens face. (4) Labour law and work condition of women. (5) Diseases and health services for women and adolescents in the tea gardens. (6) Social protection in the tea gardens. (7) History, tradition, ethnic identity, culture, language, society, attire and communication with the Bangalees. and (8) Aspirations, demands and needs of tea workers especially of women and adolescents in the tea gardens.

Poster: Message and demands of woman tea workers for their protection contained in the poster include:  (a) End of inequality and violence against women, (b) Women’s equal participation and representation in society, (c) Fair wages, implementation of labour law and decent work, (d) Standard health services and education, (e) Secure houses, and (f) Protection of identities, culture and languages.

Fourfold flyer: চা বাগানে নারীর সুরক্ষায় জীবন দক্ষতা (Life Skills for Protection of Women in Tea Gardens), a fourfold flyer is basically a synopsis of the life skills manual.

Workshops and FGDs

Workshops and FGDs organized under under the project, ‘Strengthening the voice of the women tea plantation workers and their communities to enhance their social protection and rights’ with support from Canada Fund for Local Initiative (CFLI).

Workshop at BCSU Headquarters in Sreemangal: Held on 21 January 2021 at the headquarters of Bangladesh Cha Sramik Union (BCSU), the lone union of the tea workers, the day-long workshop brought together 21 of its  central committee members and a few project personnel—11 female and 10 male. The central committee members joined from three out of seven valleys and the central office of BCSU in Sreemangl.

Workshop at Mirtinga Tea Estate: Held on 22 January 2021 at Mirtinga Tea Estate in Kamalganj upazila in Moulvibazar district, the workshop brought together 25 persons—18 female and 7 male.

Workshop at Deundi  Tea Estate: Held on 25 February 2021 at Deundi Tea Estate in Hobiganj district, the day-long workshop brought together 19 persons—15 female and 4 male.

Workshop at Alinagar Tea Estate: Held on 26 February 2021 at Alinagar Tea Estate in Kamalganj Upazila in Moulvibazar district, the day-long workshop brought together 20 persons—13 female and 7 male.

Focus Group Discussion (FGDs): Three FGDs were organized at the garden level with members of the panchayets and ordinary tea workers—one in Satgaon Tea Estate in Sreemangal Upazila on 2 January 2021, one in Shamshernagar Tea Estate in Kamalganj Upazila on 21 January and one in Sreemangal on 1 January 2021.

KIIs: A good number of KIIs were conducted with the UNOs of Sreemangal and Kamalganj upazilas, top leaders of Bangladesh Cha Sramik Union (tea workers’ union), elected leaders in Sreemangal Upazila Parishad and union council in the tea garden areas and some local journalists. 

In these workshops and FGDs 134 individuals (female 84 and male 50) had been brought together. The key objectives of these workshops, FGDs and KIIs were to have elaborate discussions on the contents of the life skills manual for use in life skills sessions of women in the tea gardens, trade union leaders and other targets. All required primary information have been gathered through these workshops, consultations, FGDs and KIIs.