BHUMIJA Foundation, Tala, Satkhira-9420, Bangladesh.

Tel: 0471-64006,01711-806866,,,,,,, Fax:

Email: bhumija_555@yahoo.com, Web:

Bhumija is a small NGO exclusively working in the midst of out castes or untouchables and schedule caste communities across southwestern region of Bangladesh since 1995. The problem of caste discrimination is generally approached in the context of India, forgetting that Bangladesh is a country where cast discrimination exists and a significant number of outcaste people live and the fundamental rights are rather systematically violated by the mainstream people. For example according to the survey commissioned by Bhumija nearly 30% of the population in 3 upazillas of Khulna and Satkhira districts belong to outcaste or untouchable communities. Bhumija has been most successful in raising social awareness of the main stream people about the evil effects of caste discrimination in the southwestern region through various programs and projects.

-Develop people¡¦s institution to community representation for asserting their rights and enhancing the participation in local institutions for their own development. -To reduce discrimination against the REMCs, sensitize gender issue in the community and inter and Intra communal equality and harmony. -Access to services particularly in health, education and legal support and improving economic capabilities of REMCs will enhance that is on going in the project implementation area.

- The majority REMCs people, nearly 60% of a roughly estimated total of 16000, as project participants report their improved human rights status. - Better access to community institutions. - Improved economic and social well being. - 30% female participants report better participation in family level decision making and overall empowerment in the family. - 30% REMCs themselves report better well being in terms socio economic status. - Improved participation in institutional committee.