Elderly Program
Aging is an emerging issue which Bangladesh is currently concerned with. Human life is like a tree. Old people are like above 60 years old are considered to be elderly. Sometimes people are getting older before reaching to the 60 because of poverty, diseases, extreme hard work. In our society, elderly people are neglected. They are considered as burden to the family or society. For all of these reasons, BEDO has taken steps to help the elderly people in 2016.
Under the program old age allowance is provided to indigent, helpless and distressed elderly people. Through this program, 63 senior citizens are given an allowance of 500 taka per month. In addition, if a helpless elderly member dies 2,000 taka is paid for the funeral.
Activities:
- Regular Meeting of village committee and union committee
- Arranging entertainment for the old people
- Providing elderly allowance.
- Special activities such as cultural activities, sports etc.
- Distributing winter clothes to the old people
- Providing health service to the elderly people
- Best child honor
- Arranging monthly elderly meeting including village meeting, union meeting.
- Providing money for completing funeral program.
Special Activities:
- Honor for best elder people
- Providing wheel chair, sticks to the elder people who are physically unstable
- Celebrating cultural activities like arranging football tournament
- Distributing winter clothes to the old poor people
Case Study
A Cup Hope :
How Mujibar Rahman Transformed His Life with Sonali Tea Stall
Mujibar Rahman, member of “Elderly Programme” is 63 years old living in Antahar village of Chatiangram, Bogra. After passing SSC exam, he started working as night guard. His family consists of four members. It was tough for him to manage the family expenditure with the limited income from his job. His wife used to make and sell various home-made snacks such as Jilapi, Vapa Pitha, Nimki, Singara etc. to local market.
(Mujibar Rahman is selling tea at his Tea-Stall)
Due to lack of capital, they find it difficult to continue their snacks business. Finally, they have been selected for the Sonali Tea Stall, a special initiative of the Elderly programme, in FY 2021-22. They have been granted BDT 15000 for buying all the necessary items required to make and sell tea, their income has increased as they sell tea apart from their regular snack business. Now, their daily income from the stall ranges from BDT 200 to BDT 250. They are living a happy life now and have a plan to expand their business in future.
From Hardship to Handicrafts :
Empowering Elderly Lives through BEDO’s Support
BEDO has been implementing “Uplifting the Quality of the Lives of the Elderly People Programme with the financial assistance of PKSF since 2016 in Chatiangram Union. The is to ensure a poverty-free and dignified life for elderly people
purpose of this program . Md. Abu Sayeed, a resident of Chatiangram Union, is an active participant in BEDO’s Elderly dwelling house as his property and resides. He lives with his three daughters and one of his Program. He is skilled in handicraft work and practices this profession. He possesses only a daughters has undergone separation from her husband. Previously, he used his earnings from selling his handicraft items such as a bamboo baskets to manage his family’s expenses.
In the past, Sayeed used to generate a respectable profit from his handicraft sales, thanks to the affordable costs of raw materials like bamboo. However, he has encountered challenges: in turning a profit recently due to the increased prices of these raw materials. During this difficult period, he has been selected for the elderly allowance of BEDO, Since August 2018. Sayeed has been receiving 500 Taka per month as an elderly allowance.
Rather than immediately spending this allowance, he chose to save the money, accumulating capital to revive his business. His business showed promising growth initially, but he confronted another setback after a while. He became short-sighted, making it difficult for him to focus on crafting bamboo baskets. Financial constraints prevented him from seeking medical advice initially. Upon learning about his condition, BEDO took the initiative to arrange a cost-free cataract surgery for him. The successful cataract operation restored Sayeed’s vision, enabling him to fully concentrate on his bamboo basket-making business once again. He is now capable of producing 8-10 baskets per day, which he sells in the local market for 100 Taka per piece. Presently, with the combined efforts of himself and his wife, they manage their family’s expenditures by creating and selling bamboo baskets in the local market.
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