A society for all, with everyone
According to the Bangladesh Sample Vital Statistic 2018, nine out of every 1,000 people in this country have some form of disabilities (gender-wise, 9.3 percent are males and 7.7 percent females). A November 2020 data reveal 21 lakh 43 thousand 353 to be the number of people with disability, registered with the Department of Social Services. And many of them remain left out of mainstream economic development, and a lot of it has do with public perception about people with disabilities, especially the differently-abled communities.
With regards to social awareness, there is still room for more to be done to promote the rights and needs of the differently-abled communities. The problem is mostly with our mindset; a lack of understanding and social acceptance eventually results in marginalisation of a large part of this differently-abled community. And true inclusion can happen if we can work to change the outlook of the society with evidence of the creativity and capabilities of these differently-abled individuals.
Inclusion of marginalised community into mainstream economic activity is one of the key objectives in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For the differently-abled community in Bangladesh, inadequate social infrastructure and an absence of proper knowledge of their needs often lead to them being overlooked in socio-economic development. A number of initiatives in both government and private domain, involving collaborations with rights and advocacy-based organisations and social enterprises are doing exemplary work to change the perception towards the differently-abled community.
One such intiative is the "Amra Shikhi Amra Pari" programmme of Prerona Foundation, through which it is working to create sustainable livelihood opportunities for people who are differently-abled. The Foundation has collaborated with various institutions who work with specially-abled individuals, including PFDA- Vocational Training Center, Society for the Welfare of Autistic Children (SWAC), Amar Joti Special School, One Culture Foundation and Beautiful Mind School. Through these collaborations, Prerona Foundation is working on capacity building of the specially-abled communities by providing them with skills development training on production of a wide variety of ethnic and contemporary products, including personal hygiene products, apparels, jewellery and lifestyle products, among others.
The Foundation has also created market linkage to showcase these products to the customers, thus creating an end-to-end project model that can support sustainable income generation opportunity for the differently-abled communities.
In 2020, while the nation was faced with an unprecedented challenge and national life came to a standstill, the specially-abled community also faced the brunt of it. Amidst this reality Prerona Foundation came up with the Prerona Mask project to support the specially-abled students of PFDA-Vocational Training Center. The students were given online training and were subsequently engaged in making the much-needed face masks. This was especially helpful at that time since there was a shortage of personal hygiene products in the market. Since its launch in 2020 "Prerona Mask" has gained significant popularity among the users, for its quality, design and making. The success of the Prerona Mask project is a testament of how the Foundation is maximising on its collaborative effort to promote economic inclusion of the specially-abled community.
Similar partnerships with Society for the Welfare of Autistic Children (SWAC), Amar Joti Special School, One Culture Foundation and Beautiful Mind School have seen differently-abled students making sarees, scarf, jewellery and other accessories and home décor products which are also gaining popularity among the customers. All the products made under the "Amra Shikhi Amra Pari" programme are available for online purchase on clicknshop.com.bd. Prerona Masks are also available for spot purchase at selected outlets of popular retail chain Shwapno and super shop Priyo.
To facilitate capacity building of the specially-abled students of its partner orgainsations, Prerona Foundation is also working to empower the trainers of these students through skills and technical knowledge. Training of Trainers (ToT) initiatives such as "Workshop on Product Development" held in March this year, was aimed to introduce the trainers and teachers of the Foundation's partner organisations with new skills, techniques and ideas, which they can incorporate in their vocational training lessons for the differently-abled students.
One of the major focus areas of the Foundation in 2021 will be on taking up similar skills development initiatives for the specially-abled students and their trainers with the eventual objective being, ensuring economic inclusion of differently-abled communities through capacity development and market linkage.
In order to drive SDG 10, "Reduced Inequality", we need to keep working on promoting economic inclusion of the specially-abled communities. And this work will also require changing the society's mindset about their capabilities, with evidence of their success stories. More organisations working in this space need to come forward and unite with the one common aim of empowering the differently-abled communities with skills and opportunities for a brighter future. Individuals can also contribute here by choosing to buy products made the specially-abled communities—by making a meaningful purchase, facilitating their economic inclusion. With confidence and empowerment, the differently-abled community can become fully self-reliant, taking us one step closer to a truly inclusive society.
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