1758 Blankets Distribution Among the Vulnerable Families in Phulbari Upazila in Kurigram District

USS & Action Aid Bangladesh are always extended their helping hand to provide humanitarian response among the people living in poverty. From this commitment USS is implementing the various types of activities; one of them is distribution of winter clothes led by Women among people living in poverty on 19-20 December’2021.

Objectives of the dignity kit distribution event:

• To increase the capacity to mitigate the upcoming cold wave in northern part of Bangladesh, among the people living in poverty.

Description of the Event:  After getting the final commitment from Action Aid Bangladesh and Elite garments industries limited, Dhaka, we organized the orientation and meeting with staffs and right holders. We come to agree on highest priority for vulnerable sponsored families and also indicate criteria which are below to:

• Divorcée and women headed are mostly vulnerable.
• Person with disability (PWD).
•  Sponsor child mothers are preferable.
• Vulnerable Senior citizen will be most priority.

As per discussion with the criteria we had taken decision the beneficiary through participatory selection process. We formed two type of committee one is union committee and another is center committee. We formed two union committee and seven center committee. They are fully responsible for whole distribution process. USS was playing the role as a facilitator. They had organized the distribution plan with solidarity support with local government institutions. According their plan, they have completed the distribution among the target areas and target participants which were Borovita 949, Shimulbari 722, fulbari 87 total 1758 winter clothes (Blanket).

Role of local administration for distribution of winter clothes (Blanket):

Respective Upazila  chairman Md. Golam Rabbani  sarker, UNO  Sumon Dass. Bimol chakma , Assistant Commusinar ( Land), Mr Khanzada Sharier Bin Manan, Senior secretary ministry of establishment, Dhaka,others Up Members and civil society were present as a guest in Borovita & shimulbari union and also present were Md. Iqubal Hossain -DGM and Sk Sazidur Rahman ( Bony) Manager ( export & shipping) from Elite garments industries limited. They thanked to USS, Action Aid Bangladesh and Elite garments industries limited for extended their helping hand for the poor people of shimulbari, Borovita & Fulbari unions and they will be providing support to AAB and USS for implementing programme successfully.

 After getting the winter clothes (Blanket) than started some beneficiary expressions their views which are below:

• I am happy to receive the blanket from USS, it was very important as a senior citizen but I have no ability to purchase the winter cloth. Thanks to Elite garments industries limited and USS, AAB.Chokoya Khatun (age 80) Shimulbari union.
• I have received red blanket from our sir, it is fine to me and we use the blanket in upcoming cold wave.----- Shid  (8) Sponsored Children- Borovita union.
•  I am very happy to played the role as a union convener and playing active role to distribution process, it was great opportunity of mine to free and fare beneficiary selection process.---- Shimu Akter, Borovita union.    

Reflection on winter clothes distribution events.

• 1758 Vulnerable families increased the capacity to mitigate upcoming cold wave in family level.
•  Print media published the news on the event.
• To create democratic space & linkage between women and local government on their development issues.

Challenge & Limitations:

• Don’t coverage the whole communities that’s why we tackle the pressure from local government and others communities.

Future direction:

• More emphasis to consider the participants’ selection process in whole community due to consider their vulnerability.