Project Time Period: January, 2025 to December, 2027
Project Location: Dacope Upazilla, Khulna
Funding Agency: NAGORIK UDDOG supported by FJS (Foundation for Just Society)
The project “Promoting the Rights of Dalit Women and Girls through Awareness and Facilitating Access to Basic Services” is being implemented by the Association for Social Development & Distressed Welfare (ASDDW) as an associate organization of NAGORIK UDDOG, Dhaka to promote the rights, dignity, inclusion and empowerment of Dalit women and girls in Dacope, Khulna.The project seeks to strengthen awareness among Dalit communities, particularly women and girls, about their rights and available public services. It also facilitates access to education, social protection, government services, livelihood opportunities and other essential services through community mobilization, awareness sessions, advocacy and direct support.
The overall goal is to contribute to an inclusive society where Dalit women and girls can enjoy their rights, access basic services, participate in decision-making and improve their social and economic well-being without discrimination.
1. Raising awareness of rights and entitlements
To increase knowledge among Dalit women, girls, men and adolescents regarding fundamental rights, gender equality, social protection and available government services.
2. Facilitating access to basic and public services
To support vulnerable Dalit community members in accessing social safety-net programmes, identity documents, birth registration, disability services, agricultural support, health-related services and other government facilities.
*3. Promoting education for Dalit children and girls
To improve educational opportunities through pre-primary education, education support centres and scholarships for disadvantaged Dalit girls.
4. Strengthening women’s leadership and participation
To strengthen the capacity of Dalit women and community leaders so that they can participate more effectively in community decision-making and advocate for their rights.
5. Supporting livelihoods and self-reliance
To facilitate access to income-generating opportunities and small-scale economic assistance for vulnerable households, particularly women and persons facing economic hardship.
6. Building linkages with government and other stakeholders
To establish and strengthen constructive relationships with local government institutions, public service providers, schools and other stakeholders to address the needs and rights of Dalit communities.
ASDDW organizes community-based awareness meetings with women, girls, men and adolescents. Separate sessions for women and adolescent girls and for men and adolescents are organized by the meeting. These meetings help community members understand their rights, responsibilities, available services and ways to seek support.
Education is an important component of the project. ASDDW is supporting two pre-primary education centres serving a total of 50 children. The programme supports children’s early learning, language, numeracy, social development and school readiness.
The project also operates an Education Support Centre in Ward No. 03 of Chalna Pourashava. The centre provides additional educational support to students from Grades 8–10, including English and mathematics.
ASDDW provides educational support to selected Dalit girls to help them continue their studies. During the reporting period, three Dalit girls received scholarship support. The presentation highlights their continued education at higher secondary and college levels, demonstrating the importance of targeted educational support for girls from disadvantaged families.
The project provides capacity-building opportunities for women and community leaders on women’s empowerment, rights and leadership. The training is to provide to the community members and community leaders. Through these initiatives, ASDDW encourages Dalit women to speak about their rights, participate in community processes and build confidence to engage with local institutions.
A central feature of the project is helping Dalit families overcome barriers in accessing public services. ASDDW works with local government representatives and government officials to facilitate access to social safety-net programmes and essential government services. The project has been supporting community members with applications and access to services including:
In the meantime, Dalit communities have got those services and also the process is going on. The project also facilitated access to other public services and agricultural inputs.
The project also facilitates livelihood opportunities for vulnerable community members. The beneficiaries include women facing difficult household circumstances, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable community members received livelihood and Income support. The project aims to help households strengthen their economic resilience and reduce dependency through appropriate income-generating activities.
ASDDW organizes advocacy meetings and maintains regular communication with local government bodies and service providers. These efforts are intended to ensure that Dalit community members are recognized, heard and able to access public services on an equitable basis. The project has developed good working relationships with government officials and staff at the Union and Upazila levels, as well as with teachers and schools in the project area. This relationship-building has strengthened the organization’s ability to facilitate government services for Dalit communities.
ASDDW believes that every woman and girl have the right to dignity, equality, education, security and access to essential services. Through this project, ASDDW is working with Dalit communities and local stakeholders to transform awareness into action and to create practical pathways for women, girls and vulnerable families to claim their rights and improve their lives.
Together, we can promote dignity, equality, inclusion and opportunity for Dalit women and girls.
