`Protiva’ Lokokendro ensured separate budgetary allocation for women and children from in the budget of Bamunia Union Council of Nilphamari district. Protiva lokokendro consists of 6 reflect circles of Bamunia Union which were established a few years ago in the working area of Udayankur Seba Sangstha (USS). Through the reflection-action process, the circle members had a realization that the Union Council does not have enough accountability and transparency in budget allocation and implementation process. The groups sought capacity building on budgetary process of Union Council from USS. USS capacitated Lokokendro members with technical assistance from ActionAid Bangladesh.

After the training Lokokendro members came to know that Ward Shobha (a pre-budget open meeting forum at community level as per local government act) is a formal space to place their demand. Two focus areas like women skill development and furniture for primary school were identified in circle meetings. These members participated in Ward Shobha and placed their demand formally.

USS assisted Union Council to compile the charter of demands from different Ward Shobha sessions. Lokokendro members observed that the members of Union Council were more interested to allocate in infrastructure like bridge and culvert rather than invest in human development.

Lokokendro members mobilised the community people to demand Union Council prioritises the allocation according to the needs of local people. They continuously lobbied with Union Council from Ward Shobha to Open Budget session and finally, Union Council allocated 640 thousand taka for school furniture and 120 thousand taka for tailoring training for women in the 2016-2017 budget. Lokokendro and social audit team had arranged a few follow up meetings with union council to monitor the implementation of the budget.

Related Impact Stories

Impact Stories

Determination of Sepali got her A+ in her secondary school certificate examination

Sepali said, “Before the exam, I realized some lack in my preparation and I was struggling to understand some complicated issues of math, physics, and chemistry. ActionAid always helped me and my family to overcome difficult situations and this time also helped me by providing tuition facilities. A teacher taught us two months before the final examination. I have also planned for future and want to be a police officer.”
Read More

Impact Stories

The adversity of mountain could not prevent Unueshayang to pass her secondary school certificate examination

Unueshayang (17) thought her dreams got shattered when she could not sit for the secondary school certificate (SSC) examination in 2021 due to not having the preparation. Lack of guidance is the most common challenge that children living in hill tracts mostly suffer in completing education. Unueshayang’s father tried to give her daughter the best opportunity but could not arrange tuition for her. After knowing this, ActionAid extended mentoring support for Unueshayang and she finally appeared in the SSC exam 2022 where she successfully passed the examination.
Read More

Impact Stories

Moriom Leading in Emergency Response

Most. Moriom is 32-year-old women from Dalbugonj village in Patuakhali, a highly disaster-prone coastal area of Bangladesh. As her husband is a migrant worker at Middle East, living alone with her 2 kids in such an area; Moriom knew she cannot limit herself within home and had to stay strong to protect her family from any form of harm.
Read More

Impact Stories

Sathy bringing Positive Changes through Volunteerism

Mst. Sathy Aktar is an activist from Kushtia and the vice-president of Ideal Youth Union. She was studying at Rajshahi University and lived in Rajshahi for her study.
Read More