This November Bulletin carries five scenes of PRDP-2 training. They are categorized as our "Field Proposal-type Training" being conducted by NBD (Nation Building Department) and NGO workers, and even by fellow villagers (See our June 2006 Bulletin for three categories of training programs). This type of trainings will be designed to involve NBD workers as trainers as much as possible. PRDP-2 is also ready to extend maximum cooperation to the existing NBD field activities such as cattle and poultry vaccination, pond fish culture, kitchen gardening, arsenic mitigation, sanitation campaign, and EPI camps, etc. PRDP now thinks that better collaboration and linkage will be established through grassroots training by development agents including both NBDs and NGOs.
However, PRDP does not think it mandatory to be involved directly in IGAs (Income Generating Activities) and micro-credit services, because services addressed directly to the benefit of individuals may be better handled by non-public sectors. Public sector services may well be directed to the benefit of community and the empowerment of community people. Grassroots training may encompass the periphery of public and private sectors.
95 Cows Get Vaccinated in a Day
Veterinary Field Assistant Mr. Zahirul Islam visited Doibokgati VC in Durgapur Union and had a total 95 heads of cow vaccinated on 9 November 2006. This is one of the most typical and efficient linkage between NBD services and VCs made available by good arrangement at VC, UDO/O and UCCM. If otherwise, viz. by door-to-door visit, the only two Veterinary Field Assistantsincluding Mr. Zahirul Islam himself who are posted in the whole Kalihati Upazila would not have been able to perform their duty so efficiently, he commented.
Bamboo Craft Training Brings Hope to Village Women
On 19 November 2006, Pukuria Icchapur MD (Mohila Dall) of Shahadebpur Union observed the completion of one-month training of bamboo craft conducted by two lady instructors (Begum Shahida and Mrs. Rowshan Ara) of LMTC. Total 17 trainees of MD and general village women tell that they are already capable of making 3-4 mura (bamboo chair) a day. They want to propagate the know-how to other women in the village. Some of them are hopeful of applying the learned craftsmanship to earning some cash in future.
Sewing Training Expands to Narandia Union
Following the same path as Bangra union, Narandia UP started three-month long sewing machine training as from 14 November 2006. LMTC provides Mrs. Hosneara Begum as the course advisor, and UP employs an instructor recruited from Bir Nagarbari village for giving practical training to a total 26 women, of whom 8 are from a few MD and the other 18 are general villagers. The course has been designed not only to give the trainees practical skills in sewing but also encourage them to gain certain "social status" as many of them are from poor families. The opening ceremony was presided over by UP Chairman Mr. Mazharul Islam and several PRDP-2 staff.
VC/MD Mushroom Workshops Attract Curious Women
In the process of collecting data and information on UP budget of fiscal 2006, our RS and RA have come across many interesting and "inner" information regarding UP activities. Of the 22 villages in Jagatpur Union, most of the villages are left out of purview of union administration, but when any villages get involved in PRDP activities they come up to front line of development. Jagatpur Union Parishad has a total income of Tk.11,73,200 of which Tk.11,48,200 is used in prescribed programs. The rest goes to VC Schemes.
On the other hand, the RS/RA had shown to the UP Secretary salient features of this union which was indicated in our baseline survey carried out in 2005. At the last UCCM on 29 October 2006, the Secretary reported about this to the participants. We wish this type of exchange of information will lead to a sort of "open budget session" involving not only UCCM attendants but also all those concerned including VC members in the union.
A Typical VC Exchange Program
The concept of "linkage" of PRDP-2 is practiced not only between Village Committee and NBD services but also for establishing effective link among villagers.
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Faruk Hossain (21) is a mushroom farmer of Bangra Union who started commercial production just this year. As he wants to make good use of VC and MD (Mohila Dall) as platform for promoting mushroom culture and its consumption, our UDO/O have lost no time to organize mushroom workshops. The workshops were held in Khilgati MD in Nagbari Union (2 November), Brojogati VC in Bangra (4 November) and Biyaramarwa MD in Durgapur (23 November), where villagers learned from Mr. Faruk Hossain not only the mushroom culture but also its cooking methods and nutritional values. Here, we see the VC/MD platform has successfully made various demands and interests of villagers "matched" in the broader sense of community development.
Drum Seeder Hopeful for Reducing Cost of Rice Cultivation
Responding to the request from Gobindopur VC members who are interested in using drum seeder for seeding rice in the coming season, UCCM made an arrangement for Sub Assistant Agriculture Officer Mr. Abdul Motin to come to the VC and displayed the villagers how to use the seeder. The chance came on 13 November 2006 when he appeared in the village with a drum seeder. He showed curious villagers the way to operate the instrument and told how they can reduce time, labour and cost of rice cultivation.
Sixth VC Formed in Jiarkandi Union
Thirteenth of November 2006 observed the birth of sixth VC since the inception of Jiarkandi UCC last January. Mr. Morom Ali, UP member who is elected from this village, had negociated with his fellow villagers and placed application to PRDP-2 office for their VC set-up last September. Responding to the application, PRDP staff had completed general household survey of the total 1,336 pop. in 250 khana.
On this day of forming the VC, village elders including Md. Morom Ali and Mr. Amdad Hossain called a village general meeting. Mr. Khaled Hossain (UDO) explained the Link Model concept, which was followed by the encouraging in speech by UP Chairman, who told the villagers about PRDP-2 which is a sort of bonus to all of us on top of general development programs of UP and NBDs, why not make the best use of this rare opportunity. Should we work sincerely in the framework of PRDP-2, we will be able to solve many of our mounting problems, reduce poverty and develop our village. By the voice-voting of proposing and seconding prospective VC members one by one, which is unique to PRDP's selection procedure, villagers quickly formed their VC comprising of 20-members, of whom 17 men and three women.
Third PRDP-2 Quarterly Meeting Brings Out Slogans for Immediate Action
Third Quarterly Review Meeting of all PRDP-2 staff members was held at LMTC, Tangail on 26 November 2006, exactly one year since UDO/O had been posted in the present unions. The meeting recognized that while our routine work has made remarkable progress in the past one year in forming VC/MD and conducting VCM, VC schemes and UCCM, there is still a large room left to improving quality of such activities as NBD's VCM visit and grassroot training programs. UDO/O were encouraged to step in a new phase of quality activities, and suggested to proceed with their fresh ideas to include, for instance, "soft VC schemes" of organizing inter-village events for the promotion of community solidarity and development.
Responding to the suggestions and encouragement from LMC, all the participants came up with each union-wise slogans and immediate goals to accomplish in the current quarter through ad-hoc group-wise brain storming.
Veterinary Field Assistant Mr. Zahirul Islam visited Doibokgati VC in Durgapur Union and had a total 95 heads of cow vaccinated on 9 November 2006. This is one of the most typical and efficient linkage between NBD services and VCs made available by good arrangement at VC, UDO/O and UCCM. If otherwise, viz. by door-to-door visit, the only two Veterinary Field Assistantsincluding Mr. Zahirul Islam himself who are posted in the whole Kalihati Upazila would not have been able to perform their duty so efficiently, he commented.
On 19 November 2006, Pukuria Icchapur MD (Mohila Dall) of Shahadebpur Union observed the completion of one-month training of bamboo craft conducted by two lady instructors (Begum Shahida and Mrs. Rowshan Ara) of LMTC. Total 17 trainees of MD and general village women tell that they are already capable of making 3-4 mura (bamboo chair) a day. They want to propagate the know-how to other women in the village. Some of them are hopeful of applying the learned craftsmanship to earning some cash in future. 
Following the same path as Bangra union, Narandia UP started three-month long sewing machine training as from 14 November 2006. LMTC provides Mrs. Hosneara Begum as the course advisor, and UP employs an instructor recruited from Bir Nagarbari village for giving practical training to a total 26 women, of whom 8 are from a few MD and the other 18 are general villagers. The course has been designed not only to give the trainees practical skills in sewing but also encourage them to gain certain "social status" as many of them are from poor families. The opening ceremony was presided over by UP Chairman Mr. Mazharul Islam and several PRDP-2 staff.
In the process of collecting data and information on UP budget of fiscal 2006, our RS and RA have come across many interesting and "inner" information regarding UP activities. Of the 22 villages in Jagatpur Union, most of the villages are left out of purview of union administration, but when any villages get involved in PRDP activities they come up to front line of development. Jagatpur Union Parishad has a total income of Tk.11,73,200 of which Tk.11,48,200 is used in prescribed programs. The rest goes to VC Schemes. 
The concept of "linkage" of PRDP-2 is practiced not only between Village Committee and NBD services but also for establishing effective link among villagers.
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Responding to the request from Gobindopur VC members who are interested in using drum seeder for seeding rice in the coming season, UCCM made an arrangement for Sub Assistant Agriculture Officer Mr. Abdul Motin to come to the VC and displayed the villagers how to use the seeder. The chance came on 13 November 2006 when he appeared in the village with a drum seeder. He showed curious villagers the way to operate the instrument and told how they can reduce time, labour and cost of rice cultivation. 
Thirteenth of November 2006 observed the birth of sixth VC since the inception of Jiarkandi UCC last January. Mr. Morom Ali, UP member who is elected from this village, had negociated with his fellow villagers and placed application to PRDP-2 office for their VC set-up last September. Responding to the application, PRDP staff had completed general household survey of the total 1,336 pop. in 250 khana. 
