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Where children are aware of human rights

NGO campaign in Kushtia villages yields good results

AMANUR Aman, Kushtia
Twelve year-old school student Jannatul and his classmate Raju, both from poor landless families, know that they have the right to food and education.
This correspondent was baffled when Jannatul said, "There is a Constitution which guarantees these rights, but all do not enjoy those. "The reality is far away from
what is in the Constitution. Why?"
There are many like Jannatul and Raju in remote Selidah village in Kushtia district who know about fundamental rights and human rights, This could not be though of few years ago in the village, about 25 kms from the district town.
The laudable job was done by Rabindra Sangsad. Selidah (RSS), a local NGO with assistance from Manabik Shahajya Sangstha (MSS),
a Dhaka-based NGO.
RSS is conducting a human rights education programme in villages in Kushtia district.
Like Zannatul and Raju, several thousand school going children aged between 12 and 15 in Selidah and nearby villages are now aware of fundamental rights and human rights.
Even poor and illiterate village women also know what are the fundamental tights and human
rights the state should ensure.
They also know about women's rights and that seeking dowry is a punishable offence.
About 5000 grassroots people have been given orientation training on human rights, particularly rights of women and child by RSS since It launched its programme in May this year, its Executive Director Sathi Nazrul Islam told this correspondent during a recent visit tom the village.
"Creating awareness is the main thing. Once they know about their rights they will realise those someday", he said.
Awareness will also greatly help in reducing crimes in society, he noted.
RSS will cover 12000 targeted people in 100 villages in Kumarkhali upazila in the district through 2625 trained 'community members', Sathi said.
The NGO is using 'Rights-Bascd Approach' (RBA) instead of traditional 'Need-Based Approach' (NBA) because NBA ca not address the real problems and fulfil aspiration of grassroots people.
RSS holds small separate gatherings of children, youths and women at villages, where they are told about fundamental rights and human rights.
"We are getting a spontaneous response from people of all ages because they can know many things at such meetings", Sathi said.
"These meetings benefit all because local educated people also attend those and discuss things frankly. The meetings also discuss various socio-economic problems and ways to overcome those".