Saptagram opens up windows of opportunity in Bangladesh.

Abstract

In Bangladesh, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) such as Saptagram Nari Swanirvar Parishad help the poorest women living in rural areas by challenging their traditional roles. In these societies, no one counts the work of women as "real work." "Real work" involves cash transitions and only occurs when men sell the agricultural and household products produced by women. The "male sphere" of the market-place is clearly separated from the domestic "female sphere." The invisibility of women's work deluded development planners during the 1970s into proposing inappropriate "spare" time income-generating schemes for women. It was reasoned that women working in their "spare" time would not expect or require to be compensated according to any recognized standard for work done in time which would otherwise be "wasted." Saptagram sponsors regular meetings in which women can discuss their problems. The women make time to attend the meetings because each group has a savings kitty which members manage jointly. While the funds are too small to generate income, their existence allows the groups to develop financial skills and devise creative uses for the capital. This meeting technique also helps break the isolation and immobility of the rural women. When women begin to earn cash incomes, they often find that their husbands become willing to help in household chores. Saptagram also provides credit, widens access to raw materials and markets, provides literacy training, and oversees mass employment schemes. In some cases, macro-economic policies have threatened economic development schemes which depend upon the prices of raw material remaining low enough for products to be profitable. Gender disparities are another major barrier which NGOs like Saptagram must continue to attempt to overcome.