Vill. + P.O.: Parulia, Upazilla: Debhata, Dist.: Satkhira.

Tel: 0471-64017-112,01711866504, Fax:

Email: ideal_ni@yahoo.com, Web: N/A

IDEAL is a non-government voluntary organization working in Satkhira District to empower the resource stressed hardcore poor women since its inception in 1987. Major approach of IDEAL is empowerment of women and help women to raise their voice to demand for changes and search for dignified livelihood options.

i) To raise awareness of the gher owners, representatives of the local community, LEBs, media, civil society as well as women workers of shrimp farms on women rights, basic human rights and labour rights for increasing bargaining capacity of the women workers in their working place in terms of wage, working environment etc. ii) To develop capacity and skills of the women workers in shrimp ghers for alternative livelihood. iii) To build-up strong networking with local and national level organizations for undertaking policy advocacy and lobby for recognition of the workers engaged in the shrimp farms as formal sectors.

Expected outcomes include a gender sensitive, safe, favorable and responsive working place for the women gher workers in 13 Unions of 3 Upazilas namely Debhata, Kaligonj and Assasuni of Satkhira District. Women working in the shrimp farms will be more aware of their fundamental human rights and will be able to claim their rights through collective group effort involving the community. Women groups will be demanding for improved working condition and wage level in shrimp farms and will be skilled enough to work in alternative livelihood. Violence and oppression against women will be decreased due to timely support on legal procedures and implementation of law. Citizens Committees, Community, Civil Society, media and LEBs, GO NGO officials will be more active and responsive in supporting women workers’ demand for human rights protection. Expected outcome will also include a policy level advocacy and lobby for getting recognition of the women gher workers as formal workers, so that they can claim their rights minimum wage, leave, overtime, compensation, healthy working place, child care facilities, safe drinking water etc. Ultimately it is expected that project interventions will reduce poverty of the poor women gher workers of the working area after getting wages, overtime, and other entitlements from their working place. Skill development programs and vocational training for alternative livelihoods to women workers in shrimp ghers will play an important role for finding better alternative for their livelihood which will contribute to reduce poverty of the primary stakeholders.