Pollisree (it is Bengali Word, meaning Rural Beauty) is a local Non-Governmental organization was established in February 1987. Since the inception it has a very clear vision to empower oppressed and destitute women who living in the society but at the beginning stage the approach was to provide services but gradually it has shifted to right base approach. In light of this practical realization Pollisree begun to organize the distressed women and through survey identified their practical and strategic needs.
The organization starts its second phase from the July 1993. At this stage total activities and services provided during 1990 were evaluated. Pollisree undertook task of formulating new plans on the basis of the evaluation. Second phase in organizing the land-less rural poor through the groups got the way.
Year Changes taking place
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2023
Ongoing above issues
Goal: To improve socio-economic, cultural and political status of under privileged, landless and diverse section of society.
Objective:
a) Uphold socio-political, cultural economic rights & entitlement.
b) Access to services, opportunities & control over resources.
c) Strengthen people, community institutions & ensure linkages.
d) Ending gender discrimination, violence against women and injustice against diverse community.
e) Enhance individual and social capacity and skill and linking with income and employment opportunity.
Mission of Pollisree:-
To become an enabler of the people, particularly women and the youth, in their endeavor to become vocal, rights-demanding, and users of their resources for sustainable well-being.
Vision of Pollisree :-
To support the poor, particularly women, youth, disadvantaged groups, and ethnic minorities, attain sustainable wellbeing and realize economic, social and gender equality.
Values:-
Pro-poor, gender sensitive, resource-sensitive, mutually respectful, tolerant towards diversity, accountable, innovative, pro-environment and sustainable.
Pollisree is working with whom:
Pollisree mainly working with distressed poor & the landless. Characteristically Primary partners are those possesses land measuring under 2 bights, monthly income is less than Tk. 1000/- and who lead their livelihood on sale of labors at least for 200 days a year. These partners are unable to identify their problems in one hand. Those who are unaware about the common laws, and are fully unconscious of their right and deprived from their basis rights belongs to this category in organization. Pollisree puts more emphasis on the divorced & distressed women as their porters.
Secondly, pregnant and eligible couple of 18-49 years of age is the 2nd types of program partners of Pollisree. In the 3rd category, there are the children from 0-6 years of age group and the malnourished children. School & college students, dropouts and the children of 8-12 years age group deprived of the right of education are in the next category. Basically, they are the primary partners of Pollisree who are the central & focal point of Pollisree’s activities and all plans of Pollisree are based on the demand of these partners.
For gender concept disseminating purpose Pollisree is working with civil society, school students, Community Based Organization (CBO) and Cultural Organizations, Trade Unions, Professional Groups, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), Local Elected Bodies (elected Union Council Chairmen and members specially female members).
In the case of NGOs services are rendered through massive dissemination of information co-operation, issue-based discussion, co-ordination meeting, exchanging ideas and views as are in requirements. Congenial working relationship and co-operation as discussion & support are maintained with various other organizations and when required.
The students are the cores of future leadership as such, Pollisree feels it appropriate that if they can be made aware of the prevailing situation, problems of the society it will be easier to solve those deep rooted problems through them. So, these groups, alongside acquiring theoretical education can be of massive utilization in development process once included as program partner list as Pollisree meanwhile starts thinking.
The youths, professional groups will be directly or indirectly interested to take active part in the progressive theme of the society if they are included in various development activities. That is why, what Pollisree thinks appropriate is, Civil Society can be added as the program partners for successful implementation of the programs.
Approach of work:
Pollisree has a participatory management process and ensuring the participation of community from Planning, to Evaluation, Strategy of Program Implementation is target group approach, but to enhance the democracy practice organization has to work with whole community through community and social approach. There for Pollisree implements their program as Target Group Approach and Community Based Approach. Pollisree also working with Government and Local Government agencies.
Decision Making Process of Pollisree:
The decision making process have some structured procedure which done periodically through organizing meeting at different level.
General Committee: Consist of 21 members, meet once a year, have authority to approve, yearly budget, and plan of activities and review the past activities, performance and audit report. Every 2 year EC is being formed through Annual General Meeting of General Committee.
Executive Committee: Consist of 07 members and meet often (at least bi-monthly). All major decision regarding approval of expenditure statement, appointment of auditor and other program related issues.
Sl. | Name of the EC Members | Sex | Address |
Designation |
Profession |
1. |
Taslima Begum |
Female |
Upashahar, Dinajpur |
Chairperson |
Teacher (rt:) & Social Worker |
2. |
Khurshida Begum |
Female |
Eidgah Bosti, Sadar, Dinajpur |
Vice- Chairperson |
Professor (rt:) |
3. |
Josna Begum |
Female |
Balubari Dinajpur |
Secretary |
Social Worker |
4. |
Subash Peter Theutoneous |
Male |
Kashba, Dinajpur |
Treasurer |
Social Worker |
5. |
Umme Kulsum |
Female |
Sardarpara, Dinajpur |
Member |
Social Worker |
6. |
Nasima Begum Reba |
Female |
Rajbari Dinajpur |
Member |
Social Worker |
7. |
Laksmi Kanto Roy |
Male |
Abdulpur, Chirirbondor, Dinajpur |
Member |
Social Worker |
Staff Meetings: According to the program needs staffs are meeting weekly, monthly and half-yearly. In the staff meeting, review the progress of work and find solution of the identified problems.
The process of decision-making allows both the staff and management to assess the program and management critically and performance of personnel.
Understanding of Pollisree on Gender:
Pollisree’s perception is clear that is not a women issue. its is fact of human biology but Gender does not mean that in normal sense the word Gender mean masculine or feminine, which also represent sexual difference of man and woman. But the society constructs the social rules, norms and attitude as well as role and activities on the basis of biological differentiation between men and women and this define as gender role and identities.
Pollisree believes that it is the issue of role and relation of both men and women and women situation in society. Pollisree acknowledges the sexual division of labor, the productive and reproductive work of both and focuses on the relationship and interaction between the personal, household, community, economic and political spheres. The imbalance gender situation is created by the society and this difference is not natural so that is can be reduces by improving the understanding and knowledge. Pollisree is trying to addresses the Gender as to fulfill the strategic needs along with practical needs of women.
To considering the situation, Pollisree pay a special attention to encouraging the conditions under which women can explore themselves and build up their confidence and power to change their lives.
Important Information:
01. Name of the Organization : Pollisree – PLS
02. Contact Person : Shamim Ara Begum, Executive Director
03. Postal Address of Pollisree,
Telephone &Email :
House # 606, Road # 3/E
Pollisree Road
Uttar Balubari
Sadar
Dinajpur-5200
Bangladesh
Tel: +88 01511334466
E-mail: pollisree@yahoo.com
04. Contact Address of Pollisree
At Dhaka :
House # 37, Flat 6/A
Block – C, Road - 04
Mirpur -13
Dhaka-1207
Bangladesh
05. Date of Establishment : February 04, 1987
06. Legal Status of Pollisree :
Registered with Social Welfare | No. Dinaj 340/1987 | Date:01-04-1987 |
Affiliated with NGO Affairs Bureau | 469/1991 | Date: 18-05-1991 |
Registered with Women Affairs | No. Dinaj 16/1993 | Date: 03-08-1993 |
Micro Credit Regulatory Authority | No. 01572-00660-00313 | Date: 29-07-2008 |
Tax Identification Number | No. 691164616578 | |
VAT registration number | No. 005106205-1006 | |
EUAID / PADOR ID | BD – 2009-AQJ- 2803660121 | |
Last AGM held | Date: 9-12-2023 |
07. Membership with :
Local and National membership of ADAB :From 1987
Founder member of NDC : From 1992
Founder member of Jogasutra : From 1997
Founder and Convener of NAOW : From 1998
Membership with HASAB : From 1998
Founder and Convener of POWER : From 1999
Member WE CAN campaign : From 2004
Member of Amar Odhikar campaig : From 2004
Member of ECNET : From 2008
Bangladesh Shishu Odhikar forum :From 2012
Member of Conflict transformation platform : From 2017
Member of BWHP : From 2018
08. General Committee : Total Member 21 (Female: 16, Male:05)
09. Executive Committee: Total Member 07 (Female: 05, Male: 02)
10. Networking with : 06 NGOs
11. Working area : Total District : 3, Total Upazila : 22, Total Union: 179, Villages: 2725 ,
Municipality 13 and People- 250900
12. Project/Unit Offices : Total 25 offices
13. Number of Staff : 261 (Female -107 & Male -154)
14. Number of senior staffs : Total: 17
15. Major Program of Pollisree
16. |
Since inception Pollisree work with the agencies |
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Organization received technical and financial support with above donor in short-term, long-term and pilot based project and still some of project run by the above donors which are as follows: |
17. Ongoing Program / Projects:
Economic Empowerment, Livelihood & Food Security |
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Name of the Project (s) |
Major Focus |
Working area |
Donor |
Project Duration |
Project cost for running fiscal year |
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Promoting opportunities for women empowerment (POWEP) |
Building people’s organizations & increase livelihood |
Upazila: Sadar, Birgonj, & Bochagonj Upazilas of Dinajpur district and Sadar, Domar & Dimla Upazila under Nilphamari |
Bread for the World- Germany |
July 2023-June 2026 |
4,07,00,000/- BDT |
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Women Empowerment, Gender & Governance |
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BWHP | Bangladesh Women Humanitarian Platform | Country Wide | Oxfam in Bangladesh | May 2023 to April 2024 | 22,20,000/- BDT | |
WE-CAN Campaign |
Reduce domestic violence |
Dinajpur, Rangpur, Takurgoan, Panchagar Joypurhat, Naogaon and Nilphamari District |
Pollisree Own fund & partially WE-CAN Secretariat |
On going |
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Disaster Preparedness and Climate Change Adaptation |
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Strengthening the Resilience of the Poorest Population to the Impact of climate Change in Bangladesh (PORIBESH) |
Eradication of Extreme poverty and hunger through create resilience community on Climate Change |
Domar & Dimla Upazila under Nilphamari and Birol & Kaharol upazila under Dinajpur district |
NETZ Bangladesh |
November 2021 to December 2024 |
11,27,26,113/- BDT |
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Organizational Development and Capacity Building |
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Run the Training Center |
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Training Cell |
Capacity Building of mass people & Staff of Pollisree and other Organization |
Dinajpur, Rangpur, Takurgoan, Panchagar Joypurhat, Naogaon and Nilphamari District |
Pollisree Own fund |
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Credit & Enterprise |
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Name of the Project (s) |
Major Focus |
Working area |
Donor |
Project Duration |
Project cost |
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Credit & Income Generating Project |
Economic Empowerment of Women, Skill development and Women Entrepreneur |
Sadar, Chirirbandar, Kaharol, Birol, Parbotipur, Fulbari Upazila under Dinajpur district |
PKSF & Pollisree own fund |
Ongoing |
82,14,59,965/- BDT |
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Enhancing Resources and Increasing Capacities of Poor Households Towards Elimination of their Poverty (ENRICH) |
Improve education, health and nutrition of target community |
Farakkabad and Rajarampur union under Birol upazial of Dinajpur district |
PKSF |
July 2023 – June 2024 |
92,82,005/- BDT |
18. Organizational Policies in Practice
19. |
Audit & Finance: |
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July – June is the financial year 2021 - 2022 audits were conducted by Mabs & J partners Co. Total numbers of bank accounts are 54, and operated in the different scheduled banks properly. The financial year budget for the period 2022 - 2023 is BDT 152,28,20,943/- |
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20. |
Organization and Program Evaluated so far First evaluation was conducted on June 1993 by Dr. Kabir Uddin Second time Dr. Faruque Ahmed, Dr.Sahin Sultana and Mr.Amin Rahman conducted second evaluation on August 1995. Third time Ms. Tahera Yasmin (RPM Oxfam-GB) and Ms. Ferdousi Sultana (Canadian Resource Team) held third Evaluation on September 1996. Fourth one was organized in April 1999 by Mr. Achintya Kumar and Shanaj Parvin of Development Service Link. Fifth one in 2002, conducted by Oxfam GB and Development Services Link. Last one in 2008, conducted by PRIP Trust. Organization system review by ACNABIN in 2009 Organization done its strategic planning in every 5 Years, in last 2010 strategic planning done by the External firm where the six new major direction came out which were mention above programme table. Research on economic empowerment at Dinajpur region by GMark consultancy – Dhaka. 2011 Evaluation by Prof: Md Nasiruddin- Jahangir Nagar University & Advocate Farida Yesmin, Supreme court, Dhaka, Bangladesh on women empowerment -2014 Evaluation by G-Mark consultancy – Dhaka on Domestic violence and Violence against women through Social Intervention: Women Empowerment and Leadership project-2014 Organization review / evaluation by OXFAM in Bangladesh – 2017 Final Evaluation of Advancement of Marginalized and Deprived of Economic Resources- 2015 Strategic planning for 2020-2025 by NRT. Research on IT involve with women economic empowerment by MONASH University Australia, Dhaka University and Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science & Technology University. |
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21. |
Strength and Weakness of PLS |
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Strengths:Have good relation and reputation within the working area as well as within the NGO development area. Build trust among the community and staff also. Skilled, Participatory and Transparent Management System Committed and trained staff team from field to management level Developed own assets and Income generation sources for self reliance Developed a relation and networking with the government and other non-governmental service providers. Community involvement from Planning to Evaluation of all projects. Self managed training centre and Gender Cell to fulfill own & others needs. Necessary policy documents already being development. Weaknesses:Limited issue based resources in training team Dependency towards donors |
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WOMEN EMPOWERMENT, GENDER & GOVERNANCE:
Pollisree's perception is clear that gender is not women's issue. Pollisree considers the role and relationship of both men and women in society and acknowledges the sexual division of labor, the productive and reproductive work of both and focuses on the relationship and interaction between the personal, household, community, economic and political spheres. So, Pollisree is taking Gender as cross cutting issue in development process and address the practical strategic needs along with the condition and position of women in the social, political, economical and cultural aspects. The Gender Program also focusing on the raising trend on violence against women issues. To reduce VAW, Pollisree has been monitoring the state intervention (Police Stations, Court and Medico-legal process). To work on Gender development exclusively Pollisree has formed a Gender Cell and a information cell within the organization with the participation of civil society and target group member. The Gender Cell is trying to mobilize different professional groups, civil society, youth clubs, and education institution and disseminating gender concept and development inertia.
Through this program Pollisree is trying to prevent the incident of women exploitation, oppression, injustice and taking prompt action at any kinds of violence against women. This program is also creating awareness against women and children trafficking. Through changing traditional socialization process from family to state level and include this into their practice and believe for ensuring the dignity of women at family and different stage.
In 2004 Pollisree start WE CAN campaign to reduce domestic violence and gender discrimination and ensure the rights of women and try to raise their voice against violence especially domestic violence. From 2010 organization make it mainstreaming to reduce domestic violence and run this campaign through existing all the project intervention and make 07 strong district alliances in Dinajpur, Nilphamary, Rangpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagargh, Joypurhat and Naogaon district. At present 157798 number change maker developed by the organization in the working area.
ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, LIVELIHOOD & FOOD SECURITY:
Through this program organization ensure the food security and fundamental rights of the target community. Pollisree strongly believes that, for sustainable development people have to have their own organization and according this program has been developed. This program includes the following activities which are (a) Formation of primary groups of landless and poor / distressed people especially women (b) Formation Union, Upazila and District level Development Committee. Each primary groups comprising an average membership of 15-30 and at least 3-5 groups in each village/ward. Groups are selecting their leaders in a democratic manner. At the age of one year of primary each group, started to form a 09 member committee of Union Social Development committee with the participation of all primary group members, Upazila Development committee also forms in the same way. The leaders are getting conceptual and management training to run their organization smoothly.
Through this program more then 5000 indigenous family especially poorest of the poor involved them to change their traditional livelihood and strengthening sustainable modern agriculture within their community. To ensure their rights all stake of the indigenous community people united them and able to claim and raise their voice against violence of human rights.
Awareness program running for the adolescents both for boys, girls and trans gender on the issues like reproductive health, gender, social responsibilities and STD, HIV/AIDS etc.
DISASTER PERPAREDNESS AND CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION:
Disaster and climate change adaptation program run at the working area for educated and raising awareness among the target community. Especially in the Dimla, Nilphamari char area, program develops some CBO to adapt climate change and prepare pre & post disaster response. Program provide technical support to the CBO’s for take necessary action to increase their productivity and develop skill for making entrepreneur especially through women and established market linkage to get proper price of their production and collect inputs for their livelihood. At present entire North Bengal are hampered by climate change effects
Regarding this program women are involve them into different IGA through received proper skill training and link them with private sector to add value of their product, link them in value chain process and make them self entrepreneur. In the disaster prone area women are increasing their capacity to adapt climate change with their livelihood.
To make resilience urban community for reduce man made & natural disaster. In the target area families are increasing their capacity to adapt climate change with their livelihood. Build up capacity of local government and strong linkage established among the different service providing agencies.
Credit & Enterprise :
The objective of the program is to develop empowerment especially women economic development, Women will develop them as entrepreneur and control over their business and asset and established frequent market linkage. Poverty is increasing in the societies alarmingly. Growths of Population are high and have no employment opportunities at village or urban level. The pressure on resources of land and water together with unemployment are creating an uncontrolled situation. Political instability and insecure society makes the situation worse. In these regards Pollisree trying address the situation by taking number of activities which are (a) Savings scheme for group member,(b) Development of enterprise,(c) Provide micro credit for agriculture, livestock, rickshaw , van, fisheries, homestead gardening, small trade, some untraditional work etc.(d) Marketing outlet for the small enterprise production (e) Reduce dependency of local money lender. (f) Utilize information, education and skill for develop small trade and market management
To initiate the income generating activities, Pollisree is providing all sorts of technical assistance and support. Savings is weekly collected and according to the group decision it is deposited to the group accounts or central account of saving maintain by group leaders and Pollisree Official. These efforts have been created near about 7000 employment or self-employment opportunities.
Status of Primary Groups at present:
No. of Village |
No. of Groups |
Total group members |
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Male |
Female |
Total |
Male |
Female |
Total |
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571 |
37 |
1525 |
1562 |
797 |
30472 |
31,269 |
Meetings are regularly held in the primary groups. During the previous year on an average 45 weekly meetings were held in each group, which was more than 99%.
With a vision to make 5000 women entrepreneur at the working area at present program develop 2200 women entrepreneur through providing skill training and money back up support, along with these try to ensure their rights through provide awareness and knowledge based training.
Reference:
Banasree Mitra Neogi
Director Program
Manusher Jonno Foundation
Plot-3&4, Avenue-3, Rupnagar Housing Estate,
Haji Road (Shialbari Dhal), Mirpur-2, Dhaka 1216, Bangladesh
Tel: 01819385638
E-mail- banasree@manusher.org
For further information please communicate with-
Shamim Ara Begum
Executive Director
Pollisree
Balubari, Dinajpur
Tel: ++88 02589924917 & +88-01713491000