Economic Development And Social Security
COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT
MATI’s integrated community development work has a particular emphasis on cooperative development of the community people, particularly organizing the women members of the smallholder farmers’ families as a key strategy for people-led sustainable development.
By the end of 2024, the cooperative has 1855 member organized in 52 village-based groups and 12 urban-groups under Mymensingh City Corporations. The Cooperative groups are under two Upazila-based registered cooperatives in Mymensingh Sadar and Nakla. The members have a savings of BDT 90M while their credit outstanding is more than BDT190M where MATI has a stake BDT100M. The money is used for establishing small enterprises by the women with supports from their family members for same food production, crop storage, chicken-duck rearing, cattle rearing, fish farming, agro-based small business, and other income-generating activities.
During the year 2024, the women cooperative is more organized with their strengthened leadership quality as well as increased motivation and awareness towards their self-help sustainable development.
The cooperative helped the women to do income generating activities with an additional income which is contributing to ending up their poverty, the family level food security & nutrition, health, water and sanitation, education, etc. as well as their empowerment in the family and the society.
MODEL SDG VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT
In 2024, the SDG Village Development projects in Mymensingh enhanced the lives of 290 people in five villages through a comprehensive approach to economic and social requirements. Financial empowerment was central to this, directly benefiting 178 households through savings and access to credit. This enabled family to diversify income through small enterprise, leasing of land, and livestock rearing, leading to financial stability and poverty cycles being broken.
In 2024, the SDG Village Development programs made significant progress in improving the lives of 290 members across five villages. More than 80% of the women are engaged in income generating activities with an additional income which is contributing to ending up their poverty, the family level food security & nutrition, health, water and sanitation, education, etc.
Concurrently, the program invested in basic infrastructure, enabling the installation of 27 water pumps and 27 toilets, improving sanitation, and eradicating waterborne diseases. MATI’s health workers offered fortnightly medical services and imparted farming skills to women, promoting kitchen gardening and sustainable agriculture, thereby building a healthier, more resilient society.
In actualizing the interdependence of education and social health, the program invested funds in providing a safe and supportive environment. To combat early marriage, special educational support was provided to girls. Furthermore, intense awareness drives were conducted in schools, highlighting the most important issues such as drug addiction, dowries, and eve-teasing. Through discussion and sensitization, the program aimed to create a safer and more equitable environment for youth and construct a generation that could confront negative social norms. Lastly, the 2024 SDG Village Development Initiatives were an accelerator for systemic change in the community, showing that integrated interventions succeed in solving rural communities’ interconnected issues.
PARANTA BELA:
SUPPORT TO THE DESTITUTE ELDERLY PEOPLE
MATI acknowledges the inalienable right of the elderly to live with dignity and respect, answering the particular needs of poor, vulnerable elderly people in Bangladesh. In a society where some of the elderly rely on their children, economic stress falls on both generations, financially and emotionally. Poor families were traditionally unable to pay for even the most essential services for their elderly, so most of them lived with undiagnosed illnesses.
To alleviate this misery, MATI initiated a monthly stipend program in June 2010 with its limited means, paying out to eight beneficiaries at first. Since 2010, MATI has been providing a small monthly allowance to the elderly people. Despite the lack of donor funding, now 7 elderly people are getting a monthly allowance of Tk.1000. Beyond the allowance, MATI’s health and Eyecare program offers specialized care and helps elders access the government’s Elderly Allowance. Together, the combination of immediate financial support and healthcare facilitation is intended to enhance the overall well-being and security of Bangladeshi older vulnerable populations.
