Dalit population is about 4.6 millions approximately.

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Introduction
Dalit population is about 4.6 millions
(approximately). Most marginalized and
disadvantaged in the society. Categorization
principally based on kind of Job they perform --
Professions considered disgraceful. Subjected to
intense socio-economic discrimination. Many
regarded as Untouchables and deprived of
opportunity to integrate with rest of society
Educated Dalits improve their economic
conditions but slighted socially for their
background. Dalits in Bangladesh never got
attention of the state, NGOs and aid agencies as
a separate entity.
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Objective

• Prepare a poverty profile of the Dalits to
  identify potential intervention areas in order to
  ensure their human rights livelihood security.
• Specific Objectives
• Assess Underlying causes of vulnerability of
  Dalit communities
• Review Livelihood patterns with seasonal
  variations
• Understand dynamics and interfaces of
  Untouchablity - livelihood concerns, employment
  opportunities and social security
• Assess Fundamental rights situation and access to
  resources and services
• Make a Psycho-social analysis - stress and
  tension that influences livelihood security
• Recommend potential options for future
  interventions

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Methodology

• PRA Tools
• Transect Walk
• Resource Mapping
• Well-being Analysis / Participatory Poverty
  Assessment
• Time Line
• Daily Activity Chart
• Mobility Chart
• Seasonal Calendar

• Quantitative Method
• Questionnaire Survey
• Qualitative Method
• Focus Group Discussion (FGD)
• Interview
• Document Review

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Study Area
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7
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Additional 6 Communities Kornidas (Bogra), Malo
(Dinajpur), Maimol (Sunamganj), Bahera
(Jessore), Rajbongshi (Jessore), Rishi
(Satkhira)
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Study Population
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General Information
Findings

• Mostly live in communities
• (5 HH - 170 HH)
• - Highest Nomosudras 172 HH
• - Lowest Rabidas 5-10 HH
• Life-style synchronized with their traditional
  occupation
• Most communities situated in disaster-prone area

• Very few basic necessities of poor quality
• (small grocery shops, tea stalls, barber shops,
  small pharmacies, ponds, tubewells, sanitary
  latrines, primary schools, mosques and temples)

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Education
Literacy rate Dalit Average 54.8. National
Average 62.7 (2008) Education level 30 -
Below Primary 10 - Primary passed 7 - VIII
passed 3 - SSC passed 1 - HSC passed 0.3 -
BA / BSc passed 0.3 - MA / MSc passed 3 -
Non-formal education

• High Dropout
• Parents inability to provide financial support
• Lack of awareness and access to GOB facility
  (female stipend)
• Communication problem (high school far from
  community)
• Parents opts for child labour for additional
  income
• Social discrimination in educational
  institutions by main stream society

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Land Ownership and Assets
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Occupation

• Engaged in traditional occupations.
• Occupations considered undignified and ritually
  impure as it involves manual labour
• Change in Traditional Occupation, or adapting
  other occupations as a secondary source of income
  for survival.
• Occupation change more prevalent among Bagdi,
  Dhopa and Nomosudras

Trend in Occupation Change
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Daily Wage / Monthly Income Cobbler Daily Tk.
50-80 Fisherman Daily Tk. 150 300 or more
(peak season, depending on catch) Day Labourer
Tk 100 120 (harvesting time) and Tk. 50
(off-season) Rickshaw/van pullers Tk. 100-180
daily Sweepers Monthly Tk 800-1200 (GOB sector)
Tk. 800-1500 (private sector) Barbers, Mechanics
and Laundrymen Monthly Tk. 2500 3000 Women
day-labourers - Tk. 60-80 per day

• Insecure Livelihood
• Low daily wages
• Less demand of their services due to modern
  technology
• Infiltration of the Bangali Muslims in their
  traditional profession
• Lack of access to natural resources (land and
  water bodies)
• Lack of additional job skill
• Less job opportunity due to social
  discrimination
• Gender discrimination

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Annual Income and Expenditure
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Expenditure and Food Expenses
Leading to involvement in Micro-credit 66 opined
as not being benefited from Micro-credit Reason
Weekly installment burdensome, High interest, No
income
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Description of Household
Housing Structure Tin shed 43, Thatched roof
27, Mud hut 12.5, Half-brick 15, Brick built
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Household environment Mostly damp, dark and
ill-ventilated
Source of Lightning Electricity 37 (Dhopa,
Bormon, Horijan) Rest use Kerosene lamp or Koopi.
Source of Drinking Water Main source are
tube-well. Dhopas also use WASA water supply.
Latrine Sanitary latrine (Dhopa) Slab latrine
(Jalodas, Barmans, Namashudras) Katcha -
Temporary latrine (Bagdis, Kaiputras, Rabidases)
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Marital Status
Maintain marital relationship only within their
own caste. Does not permit multiple marriages.
Early marriage exists to some extent. The
youngest age is 13 years. 69.2 Kaiputras
favoured early marriage. 86.3 Namasudras did not
favour early marriage.
High prevalence of dowry practice in all
communities. Tk. 5000/- - 50,000/-
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Women Status
Social Perspective Women considered subordinate
at family and community level. Women seen as
responsible for taking care of family and
children. Occupation Mostly housewives. Very
few have education and skill. Very few involved
in livelihood activities. Jaladas and Dhopa
women assist the males Harijan women work equally
as males Few Nomosudra educated women are
Teachers / NGO workers Bagdi women hired for
roof compacting. Social Discrimination Not
hired as domestic help by Bangali families
(Rabidas) Wage Discrimination Agro-labourers get
less than the males. Decision Making No Decision
making power. Contribute to family income but
spend money with husbands consent. Domestic
Violence Often subject to domestic violence
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Natural Disaster
Type of Disaster Major disasters reported for
the last five years are floods, cyclones, flood
and cyclone together and others.
Access to Relief Goods Highest positive
response - 59 Rabidases HH Highest negative
response - 100 Dhopas HH
Access to public disaster shelter Highest
positive response - 28 Harijan HH
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Legal Aid Service

• Common Problems requiring Legal Aid Service
• Family feud among the Rabidas and Horijan
• Domestic violence among Nomoshudra and Kaiputra
  
• Social violence and Neighbour dispute among
  Jalodas, Harijon, Nomoshudra and Bormon
• Money laundering among Jalodas and Dhopa
• Theft and robbery among Dhopa
• Land dispute among Nomoshudros

Access to Legal Aid 35 Village Court 33 UP
Chairman 16 Police Station 13 Court 9
Social Organization Others 4 (respected person
within family or community)
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Health
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Social Condition

• Existing social condition in many ways
  responsible for the prevailing poverty situation
  among the Dalits.
• Dowry practice compels to take loans from
  various sources to meet the dowry demand leads
  to financial hardship
• Early marriage system is a hindrance to female
  education
• Dalit women positioned at the bottom of caste,
  class and gender hierarchies reduces self
  confidence and leads to social exploitation
• Existing social discrimination induces human
  rights violation
• Frequent social discrimination reduces
  self-esteem and causes frustration
• Social segregation is a barrier in terms of
  equal participation and rights
• Traditional custom of drinking liquor leads to
  health problem, domestic violence

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Lack of Access to Basic Services

• Dalits often deprived of their right to access
  health service, legal aid, social security,
  recreation facility etc. due to
• Ignorance of existing local services due to
  lack of information
• Communication / transportation problem
• Financial hardship
• Apathy by mainstream society discourages
  availing required services
• Lack of knowledge regarding government policy

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NGO Programs

• NGO programs not community need-based.
• Major national NGOs (Grameen Bank, BRAC, ASA,
  Proshika) and many local NGOs mainly implement
  micro-credit programs.
• Training to beneficiaries for skill development
  and fund management need to be more extensive
• Education program by some local NGOs and BRAC
  schools need to be regular and quality need to be
  improved
• Service Delivery and Capacity Development much
  required by the communities are implemented in
  small scale
• Awareness raising program implemented in small
  scale.
• Water Sanitation programs (mostly by CARE)
  implemented in small scale.

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Political Aspects

• Politically the Dalits subjected to
  discrimination.
• No aid from government (They did not get any help
  during flood or other natural calamities.)
• Union Parishad chairmen and members ignore them
• Considered only during election But after that,
  they are ignored and deprived from all aspects.
• Often become victims of exploitation and torture
  during election period.
• Dalits have lost interest to vote.

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Recommendation

• Advocacy and Awareness program against social
  discrimination and Dalits right to equal
  opportunity to employment, education and health.
• Need Assessment for livelihood diversification
  among the Dalits considering access and
  utilization of local resources
• Skilled training program for Dalit women and men
  for alternative or additional income
• Strategic planning for NGOs for providing
  financial support to alternative or additional
  income generating activities
• Study to explore how the traditional
  profession/skill may be used for better income
  opportunity
• Create linkage to ensure access to basic rights
  and services
• Initiate NGO service delivery program (health,
  education, legal aid, skill development,
  marketing etc.)

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Conclusion
Dalits demands are never heeded in our society.
Their underprivileged livelihood and loss of
self-dignity are leading them towards extreme
poverty. State policy to eradicate social
discrimination (including legal framework) and
building an inclusive nation is a must to reflect
equity in terms of social, cultural, religious
and ethnic diversity. Government and Development
Organizations need to undertak cultural e
coordinated activities to promote livelihood
security to enable them to attain adequate
standard of living. Leadership qualities of the
Dalits to be developed to build their
self-confidence, get organized to seek social
justice and enjoy equal rights and dignity.
Dalit is not a caste. He is a man exploited by
the social and economic traditions of the
country. Founder-editor of Asmitadarsh (mirror
of identity), the chief organ of Dalit literature
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Study Team
Thank You