FHD believes that the poor need organizations to attain bargaining capacity with the social, political and administrative elite. FHD also share the view that people’s participation can not be ensured overnight. Rather long-term nursing is needed to give the organizations a institutional shape. FHD defines institution in the way – a type of social interaction that takes place continuously. In this approach, FHD organize and strengthen village-based organizations of the poor and women. The groups are provided with a range of service like awareness raising, adult literacy, training on leadership, agriculture extension, agriculture and aquaculture technology transfer and mobilization of micro-credit. The village-based groups are organized separately for men and women. Group size is between 20 – 40 people within the age group of 20 – 55 years. Following shows the existing number of village groups and beneficiaries under FHD’s working areas:
Sl
Upazila/Metropolis
No. of Groups
No. of Groups Members
Female
Male
Total
Female
Male
Total
01
Jamalpur Sadar
80
-
80
2400
-
2400
02
Madarganj
70
10
80
1750
250
2000
03
Islampur
50
5
55
1300
125
1425
04
Sharishabari
15
10
25
360
245
605
05
Bakshiganj
25
7
32
625
175
800
06
Sherpur Sadar
25
10
35
675
240
915
07
Nalitabari
35
15
50
770
345
1115
08
Jhenaigati
125
20
145
3125
500
3625
09
Phulpur
25
15
40
575
345
920
10
Trishal
25
5
30
575
110
685
11
Nakla
90
10
100
2250
250
2500
12
Sreebardi
100
-
100
2500
-
2500
13
Madan
100
-
100
2500
-
2500
14
Kalmakanda
95
5
100
2375
125
2500
15
Dewangang
450
550
1000
11250
13750
25000
16
Mymensingh
50
-
50
1250
-
1250
17
Chittagong
26
40
66
660
990
1650
Total
1386
702
2088
34650
17550
52200
In order to emerge as a power in the society, the groups maintain inter-village communication.
2 Relief Program:
Jamalpur and Sherpur being a flood prone area, FHD is providing relief support to the vulnerable people during the disaster period. From 2000 under Disaster Preparedness Program (DPP) of Concern-Bangladesh, FHD has been providing relief in Jamalpur and Sherpur district. In January 2003 due to low humidity the northern part of Bangladesh experienced severe cold wave. This has also affected the greater Mymensing region. With the assistance of Concern-Bangladesh, FHD provided 500 household with one blanket and two sweater in Jamalpur Sadar Upazila. FHD has also provided support to flood victims of 2004 in Islampur, Madarganj, Dewanganj, Jamalpur Sadar Upazila of Jamalpur district and Nakla and Sreebardi upazila of Sherpur district. Under Post Flood Rehabilitation Program FHD undertaken Cash for Work in 4 Union under Nakla upazila of Sherpur district. The program is providing cash of Tk.28,63,500 among 874 persons against earth work.
3 Food Assisted Fisheries Development Program:
FHD entered into a collaboration with the Department of Fisheries (DoF) to organize the fisherman communities around the state owned water bodies, provided them with training on fish production technology, established organizational and financial discipline within the fishermen groups and arranged micro-credit for them. The project is being financed by World Food Program (WFP). A total of 9 (nine)-water bodies with an area of 56 acres have been handed over to FHD to perform the aforesaid activities. The water bodies are located in Jamalpur Sadar, Sharishabari, Melandaha, Madarganj Thana of Jamalpur district. So far 1008 fishermen families have been organized in 160 groups.
A 5-day long training course has been designed by FHD for the fishermen group. The training course contained information on carp culture in the ponds, preparation of pond for aquaculture, maintaining ph level in water, transportation of fingerling, preparation of fish feed and so on. The program has been in operation since 1999.
4 Social Forestry Program:
FHD implemented social forestry program under Forest and Environment Ministry with financial assistance of ADB. Under the program tree plantation were made on 20 km. road/embankment in Sharishabari. The plantation is giving economic benefit to the beneficiaries and also keeping ecological balance. FHD has set up nurseries at Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Sherpur and Gazipur districts. The nurseries raised saplings for both fruit and timber trees. The fruit trees included; mango, jackfruit, lemon, guava, wood apple, kool Barai, dalim. The saplings were distributed among the beneficiaries and common villagers. Following is the distribution of saplings by locations and number:
