Sustainability analysis of economic activities supported by the Rural Women Employment Creation Project in Dumuria Thana, Bangladesh | |
| Author | Parvin, Gulsan Ara |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.AC-99-20 |
| Subject(s) | Sustainable development--Bangladesh--Dumuria Thana Job creation--Bangladesh--Dumuria Thana |
| Note | A thesis submitted in the partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. AC-99-20 |
| Abstract | This study examined the socio-economic impacts and sustainability of economic activities pursued by rural poor women with the financial support of Rural Women Employment Creation (RWEC) Project implemented in 12 thanas of Bangladesh. This study covers Dumuria Thana of Khulna district. Information was collected from the entrepreneurs, representing most economic activities supported by the project through a structured questionnaire survey. Semi-structured interview was conducted to obtain additional information from officials and key informants. Besides, observation and secondary sources also contributed to this study. Weighted Mead Index and some techniques of multivariate analysis have been used to analyze the data. From the study it is evident that women are mostly engaged in traditional activities, including cattle and poultry raising. A few of them are pursuing non-traditional activities like leather goods and paper packet making, tailoring, bakery, and shop keeping. The adoption of these activities is to some extent influenced by socio-economic factors like religion, educational status, land holding and household size and level of income of women entrepreneurs. The project members are relatively homogeneous in terms of their socioeconomic status except religion which religion has significantly influenced adoption of some activities, like leather goods making. Irrespective of type, all economic activities have induced positive changes in regard to the quality of life, ~mpowerment of women, children's education and housing condition, though the extent of changes is not significantly high. The activities have enabled women to have a better access to basic needs and make important contribution to household decision making, especially the decision regarding their personal needs and availing treatment and recreational facilities. This study examined social, economic, institutional and environmental dimension of sustainability. It is apparent from the analysis that activities possessing better social, economic, institutional prospect and environmentally sound are relatively sustainable than others. Activities like paper packet making, tailoring, bakery, and piscicultue which are not so traditional type are in this category. While traditional activities like cattle raising, basket and rope making are relatively unsustainable due to their weakness in most of the selected constituents of sustainability. Activities such as leather goods making, grocery operating, vegetable, fish, sari, utensil selling, rice husking and muri making are in transitional position since from the perspective of some attributes these activities are relatively sustainable, while from some other perspective they are relatively unsustainable. The study concludes that the sustainability of economic activities can be enhanced through social and family motivation, provision of adequate and proper institutional including training and extension supports services and adoption of non-traditional activities which are environmentally sound. |
| Year | 1999 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. AC-99-20 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Agricultural, Conservation and Rural Development (AC) |
| Chairperson(s) | Thapa, Gopal B.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Amin, A.T.M. Nurul;Soparth Pongquan; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Norwegian Agency for Development (NORAD); |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1999 |