SOCIAL INCLUSION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN THE NORTHERN CHARS (RIVER ISLANDS) IN BANGLADESH: FRIENDSHIP’S EXPERIENCE

Abstract

The riverine northern ‘Chars’ (river islands) of Bangladesh are not static & have minimal connectivity with mainland areas. Superstition, lack of education, lack of infrastructure and adverse climatic conditions make life difficult for the inhabitants in these hard to reach areas where persons with disabilities are far behind to get their citizen rights and live a dignified life. Still they are excluded from mainstream activities and basic services due to remoteness, such as – health, education, livelihood, empowerment, social safety schemes etc. offered by the government and other non-government service providers. With the aim to improve the living condition of persons with disabilities in chars, Friendship Inclusive Citizenship launched a pilot project with support from the Ineke Feitz Stitching & Friendship Netherlands in 15 chars of Gaibandha and Kurigram in 2020. Friendship is implementing the ‘Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR)’ approach through sensitization, need-based therapeutic interventions, assistive devices, build capacities of caregivers/community volunteers/staff, form self-help groups (SHG) of persons with disabilities, inclusive education, livelihood training, referral and advocacy with local and national level stakeholders. Positive changes started to get visible around awareness among communities to realize their roles/responsibilities towards persons with disabilities, rights and available services for persons with disabilities etc. Persons with disabilities are receiving disability cards, allowances, assistive devices and therapies at government disability service centers with support from Friendship. Children with disabilities are enrolling in mainstream schools, SHGs are learning advocacy & leadership skills and govt. authorities are realizing their roles to serve these people in chars. These interventions are empowering persons with disabilities in remote chars to get their rights and services through concept of “Reaching the unreached” and “Leave no one behind”.