Introduction:

The economy of Bangladesh is based on agriculture. When the question of

development arises in this society, the question of rural development comes
automatically. It has been accorded the highest priority in our development
strategy. It aims at qualitative change in the life pattern of our people. Rural
development is the betterment in the totality of life for rural people. According to
World Bank (2006), “Rural development is a strategy designed to improve the
economic and social life of a specific group of people-the rural poor.”

The objectives of rural development encompass improved productivity, increased

employment and thus higher incomes and health. A national programme of rural
development should include a mix of activities, including projects to raise
agricultural output, create new employment, improve health and education,
expand communications and improve housing.

For a country like Bangladesh, rural development is important. The reason behind
this is that most of the people of the country are living in the villages. There is a
direct link between the rural development and the development of our national
economy. The rural sectors contribute about two-thirds of the GDP. We can
achieve our cherished goal of financial development by the development of our
villages which hold the key to our success.

Meaning and Definition of Development:

The 1975 Dag Hammarskjold report states that: ‘Development is a total

comprehensive process, informed by a value loaded vision and shaped around
five pillars; Satisfaction of human needs both material and political Self reliance,
Endogenous growth, Harmony with the environment, Structural transformation in
the economy, society and polity.

In 1994, the Secretary General of United Nations Mr. Boutros Ghail defined
development, ‘as a decisive factor in shaping our world and it will define
relations among people, shaped the behavior of nations and determine the
ecological nature of the planet. Yet today development is in crisis. First there is
crisis of complexity; second, we have realized that development has no single
definition. No single strategy has been immune from failure. There is no certain
path to success.'

Meaning of Rural Development:

There is no universally accepted definition of rural development. Various scholars

have defined it variously. As a concept, it connotes overall development of rural
areas with a view to improve the quality of life rural people. As a phenomenon, it
is the result of various physical, technological, economic, socio-cultural and
institutional factors. As a discipline, it is multi-disciplinary in nature representing
an intersection of agricultural, social, behavioral and management of sciences.
Some scholars understand rural development as the development of agricultural
sector. But this concept of rural development is not comprehensive enough to
define rural development completely. On the other hand, rural development is
understood as being a multi-dimensional or multi-faceted concept.

Definition Of Rural Development:

Rural development as improving standard of the mass of the low income

population residing in rural areas and making the process of their development,
self sustaining. Following are some definitions of rural development:

According to World Bank “Rural development is a growth strategy for a

particular target population-the rural poor. It involves extending of benefits of
development to these whose future lies in the pursuit of livelihood in rural areas.
These include small farmers, landless and women”

Katar Singh defines, "Rural development as the overall development of rural

areas, which aims at improving quality of life of rural people. More specifically,
by rural development, he means the development of agriculture and allied
activities, village and cottage industries and crafts, socioeconomic infrastructure,
human resources in rural areas."
 Profile of Mathbaria Upazila

Mathbaria is an Upazila of Pirojpur District in the Division of Barisal,

Bangladesh. Mathbaria came into existence in 1981 as a Thana. Mathbaria
Upazila (PIROJPUR DISTRICT) area 353.25 sq km, located in between 22°09'
and 22°24' north latitudes and in between 89°52' and 90°03' east longitudes. It is
bounded by PIROJPUR SADAR and BHANDARIA upazilas on the north,
PATHARGHATA upazila on the south, BAMNA and KANTHALIA upazilas on
the east, SARANKHOLA and MORRELGANJ upazilas on the west.

Tolal Population of Mathbaria Upazila are 263527; and among them male
131940; female 131587; Muslim 233999, Hindu 29337, Buddhist 9, Christian 9
and others 173. Water bodies Main rivers: Baleshwari, KATCHA, Pona.
Administration Mathbaria Thana, now an upazila, was formed in 1981.

Mathbaria (Town) consists of 9 wards and 16 mahallas. The city area is 15.92 km.
It has a population of 16,573 men and women 52.07% 47.93%, the population
density of 1,041 people per square kilometer. Literacy rate among the town
people is 51.5%. The city has a dakbungalow.

Upazila

Municipality Union Mouza Village Population Density Literacy rate

(per sq (%)
Urban Rural km) Urban Rur
al
1 11 67 94 25795 237732 746 69.7 62.0

Source: Source Bangladesh Population Census, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics

Rural Development Project in Mathbaria Upazila:
In mathbaria Upazila, there have many rural development project in running
position. Among these Project "Ektee Bari Ektee Khamar" is one of the most
valuable project. This project is under the Rural Development and Co-operatives
Division of Rural Development and Co-operatives, Division Ministry of Local
Government.

Rural Development and Cooperative Division (RDCD):

Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives is a

ministry of the government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. It is
responsible for the housing and building, regional and rural policy, municipal and
cities administration and finances, and the conduct of elections. The Ministry of
Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives contains two
Divisions:

 Local Government Division

 Rural Development and Co-operatives Division

Project under Rural Development and Co-operatives Division (RDCD) in

Mathbaria Upazila:

 Rural Poverty Alleviation Foundation (PDBF)

 Small Farmer Development Foundation (SFDF)
 Bangladesh Cooperative Bank
 Bangladesh dairy farmer co-operative Union Limited (Milk Vita)
 Bangabandhu Poverty Alleviation and Rural Development (BAPARD)

Ongoing Project under Rural Development and Co-operatives Division:

 Integrated Rural Employment Support Project for Poor Women (2nd

resolved)
 Participatory Rural Development Project-3 (PRDP-3)
 Rural livelihood Project (2nd level)
 Employment Guarantee Program for the Northern Poor (2nd level).
 Ekti Bari Ekti Khamar (EKEK)
Here, assignment topic is the Ekti Bari Ekti Khamar (EKEK) project. Now we
will discuss about Ekti Bari Ekti Khamar (EKEK) in Mathbaria Upazila clearly.

Ekti Bari Ekti Khamar (EKEK) in Mathbaria Upazila:

Ektee Bari Ektee Khamar i.e. One House One Farm (OHOF) is a poverty
alleviation project through family farming of the government of Bangladesh. The
goal of the project is poverty alleviation through e-financial inclu¬sion (i.e. fund
mobilization) followed by family farming livelihood and income generation of
the under privileged and smallholders of the country.

Vission and Mission of the Project:

The vission of Ektee Bari Ektee Khamar i.e. One House One Farm is Poverty
alleviation and sustainable development through fund mobilization & family
farming.

Mission of the Ektee Bari Ektee Khamar include:

 Assistance for capital formation of the poor farm families
 Sharpening their skill by training & motivation
 Allow them to sit together at courtyard meeting
 Enable them to take decision independently
 Enabling them to develop need based small family farms
 Ensure marketing facilities for their product

Specific objectives of the project:

 Ensure optimum use of local human and natural resources sustainably by
2018;
 Provide incentive BDT 200 (US$ 2.5) per month to each small¬holder by
2018;
 Provide grant BDT 150,000 (US$ 2000) annually to each village cooperatives
by 2018;
 Skill development training and Empowerment of the poor farmers in particular
the women by 2016;
 Ensure the use of the lands of absentee landowners under the OHOF by 2021;
Project Targets:

The project will be implemented in 40527 villages of 4503 Unions under 485
Upazillas of the country. The total households to be covered under this project
will be 24,31,620 and that will provide benefits to 1,21,58,100 members of the
households/community.

Target Beneficiaries:

In the project areas, the heads of the following categories of households will be
considered as target population to be determined based on the following criteria:
1. Poor women-headed households in the village;
2. Households having only homestead;
3. Landless people those who own land up to 0.50 acre of land including
homestead and who earn their livelihood by selling manual labor and have no
regular sources of income.

Theme of the Project:

OHOF is an initiatives of the Honorable Prime Minister of Bangladesh. It is a

program to ensure funding, livelihood and poverty alleviation. The first target is
to fund mobilization followed by investment in small scale farms of the poor
leading to increase food production, family nutrition and income generation. It is
a permanent smallholder investment activity leading to permanent income and
permanent poverty alleviation. And this sustainable poverty alleviation model is
dreamt by the Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The 1st step, participatory fund mobilization: The poor saves BDT 200 per
month and Government gives the equal amount to them as bonus followed by
BDT 1,50,000 as revolving fund annually. All the money has been deposited to
the bank account of the village development organization (VDO).

The 2nd step, investment: The poor sit together in the cortyard meeting and take
decision for investment independently according to their need and livelihood.
The 3rd step, development of farm: After getting fund from the VDO each poor
develops small farms like fishery, livestock, poultry, nursery, vegetable gardening
etc. Thus every inch of land of the smallholders is used efficiently for agro
production.

The 4th step, repay of the loan: After income generation the smallholder families
deposit (repay) loan in installment to the account of the VDO. Thus the fund is
being revolved and utilized for poverty alleviation by the poor permanently. Thus
it stands as a sustainable poverty alleviation cycle challenging the vicious cycle of
poverty.

Major activities under the program are:

 Selection of the poor and under privileged farm families

 Formation of cooperatives with 60 small farm families (40 female and 20

male)

 Involve them in fund mobilization through electronic device i.e. e-financial

inclusion

 Enable the poor farmers for savings BDT 200 (USD 2.50) per household per
month and the project provides the same amount BDT 200 (USD 2.50) per
month as bonus/incentive

 Provide revolving fund BDT 150,000 (USD 1920) annually to each of the
cooperatives

 Provide them training in related fields of agriculture and farming Enable them
taking decision independently about farming & development sitting in the
evening courtyard meeting

 Enable them developing small farms according to their needs/choice

Organogram:

Services of Ekti Bari Ekti Khamar in Mathbaria Upazila:

(Citizen Services)

(1)
Name of Services-- To identify the poor people
Service Providing Methods-- To select 60 families (One member from one
familiy) from one or more villages within one word.
Necessary Documents and Availability-- Upazila office (Ekti bari ekti khamar)
Service cost-- No cost
Time of providing services-- Within 15 days from to select villages
Designated Officer-- Upazila coordinator

(2)
Name of Services-- Formation of village development association
Service Providing Methods-- Forming the village development association by
sorted 60 poor member from selected villages
Necessary Documents and Availability-- Upazila office (Ekti bari ekti khamar)
Service cost-- No
Time of providing services-- Within 15 days from to select members
Designated Officer-- Upazila coordinator

(3)
Name of Services-- To inspire for savings
Service Providing Methods-- inspire the association's members for saving
monthly 200 Taka
Necessary Documents and Availability-- Upazila office (Ekti bari ekti khamar)
Service cost-- No
Time of providing services-- Continuously after formation of association
Designated Officer-- Upazila coordinator

(4)
Name of Services-- Assist for ground meting
Service Providing Methods-- Providing assistance for association's members by
project in weekly ground meting
Necessary Documents and Availability-- Upazila office (Ekti bari ekti khamar)
Service cost-- No
Time of providing services-- Continuously after formation of association
Designated Officer-- Project's field assistant

(5)
Name of Services-- Training for awareness building
Service Providing Methods-- To provide training for members in Upazila level
regarding Organization, Management and Accounting.
Necessary Documents and Availability-- Upazila office (Ekti bari ekti khamar)
Service cost-- No
Time of providing services-- Continuously after formation of association
Designated Officer-- Upazila coordinator

(6)
Name of Services-- Specialized Training for creating Developmental Worker
Service Providing Methods-- Providing Specialized Training for association's
members regarding agriculture, Animal husbandry, Fish, Duck-chicken, Nursery
Necessary Documents and Availability-- Upazila office (Ekti bari ekti khamar)
Service cost-- No
Time of providing services-- Continuously after formation of association
Designated Officer-- Upazila coordinator

(7)
Name of Services-- Assistance for Loan
Service Providing Methods-- To supply loan/fund to association's members for
income generating works by 8% service cost
Necessary Documents and Availability-- Upazila office (Ekti bari ekti khamar)
Service cost-- No
Time of providing services-- Continuously after formation of association
Designated Officer-- Upazila coordinator

(8)
Name of Services-- Assistance for Establishing Farm.
Service Providing Methods-- To provide assistance and suggestion to the
association's members for joining in income generating works by using provided
funds.
Necessary Documents and Availability-- Upazila office (Ekti bari ekti khamar).
Service cost-- No.
Time of providing services-- Continuously after formation of association.
Designated Officer-- Project's field assistant.

(Institutional services):

(1)
Name of Services-- Online data entry and collection of member's family
information.
Service Providing Methods-- To create online database and to collect personal
and family information of association's members.
Necessary Documents and Availability-- Upazila office (Ekti bari ekti khamar).
Service cost-- No.
Time of providing services-- Within 15 days from to select villages
Designated Officer-- Upazila coordinator
(2)
Name of Services-- Best working Prize.
Service Providing Methods-- Inspiring to work and giving award for best
working performance of members of association under the project.
Necessary Documents and Availability-- Upazila office (Ekti bari ekti khamar).
Service cost-- No.
Time of providing services-- Annual
Designated Officer-- Project Director

(3)
Name of Services-- Arrangement of Fairs
Service Providing Methods-- To circulate the activities of Project, to arrange
the fairs in Upazila, Zila and National level.
Necessary Documents and Availability-- Upazila office (Ekti bari ekti khamar).
Service cost-- No.
Time of providing services-- Annual
Designated Officer-- Project Director

(4)
Name of Services-- Establishing rural saving bank
Service Providing Methods-- To establish rural saving bank for stabilizing the
activities of project and providing services for poor population and transferring
the activities to bank.
Necessary Documents and Availability-- Upazila office (Ekti bari ekti khamar).
Service cost-- No.
Time of providing services-- Continuous process
Designated Officer-- Project Director

Success Story in Mathbaria Upazila:

(1)
Shahidul Islam Hawlader, the poor beneficiary of Amragachia Village
Development Organization under Ektee Bari Ektee Khamar Project was
cultivated watermelon. His achievement was:

He earned BDT 40500 within a harvesting season investing BDT 10000 from the
village development organization under Ektee Bari Ektee Khamar Project.
(2)
Md. Ala Uddin, the successful beneficiary of Duphoti village development
Organization under One Hose One Firm Project was benefited by Bean
cultivation. His achievement was:

He earned BDT 42000 within a harvesting season investing BDT 15000 of which
10000 from the village development organization under Ektee Bari Aktee
Khamar Project.

(3)
Motiur Rahman Sana, the successful beneficiary of Mathbaria village
Development Organization under Ektee Bari Aktee Khamar Project has gained
solvency through Cow rearing. His achievement:

He earned BDT 13000 to 15000 per month investing BDT 20000 from the village
development organization under Ektee Bari Aktee Khamar Project.

Strategic objectives Of the project:

(1) Socio-economic development of underprivileged population in rural arias.

Identifying partnership and empowerment of women in development.
(2) To increase income generating activities for poor population by formation of
permanent fund.
(3) To provide employment by creating efficient Human resources
(4) To ensure uses of technologies in every level of project management and
Beneficiary's activities.
(5) To ensure accountability and transparency in financial management by
receiving modern technologies.
(6) To select the rural association as center of overall activities.
(7) Ensure the use of the lands of absentee landowners under the OHOF by 2021.
Limitations of Ektee Bari Ektee Khamar in Mathbaria Upazila:

There have some institutional and structural limitations of Ektee Bari Aktee
Khamar Project. Following are the probelems of Ektee Bari Aktee Khamar
Project.:

 Problem of recruitment of employs.

 Problem of promotion of employs.
 Problem of rules and regulation of the employs
 Work distribution problem
 Lack of manpower
 Lack of good trainer
 Structural problem

Weakness of Rural Development:

I can’t think of any possible disadvantages of rural development, as the term is

commonly understood. If Rural development truly happens, it will mean that rural
population will have a better livelihood and better amenities in rural areas and
will not want to migrate to urban centers, making availability of cheap labour
scarce.

Most first world countries have a developed rural ecosystem and thus their urban
centers are no longer over burdened. This does raise the carbon footprint,
ecological footprint and amount of waste generated in rural areas, one of the
possible downsides of current model of development. It might also lead to a loss
of rural, tribal, nomadic cultures as more and more area comes under the
influence of (western) civilization.
Conclusion:

Ektee Bari Ektee Khamar project has been undertaken to enhance the status of the
rural poor. The project will cover 40527 villages in 4503 unions under 485
Upazillas of the country. The project will enable the rural poor and the
community people to find for their self-employment opportunities with the
physical and financial supports to be offered by the project. Besides, the village
organizations to be organized under the project would be the driving force to
mobilize the poor including the women. In this way the disadvantaged and
excluded groups of people including the women would be integrated with the
process of empowerment. Thus, the project will help to increase production of all
types and alleviate rural poverty.

References:

http://www.ebek-rdcd.gov.bd/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=65&Itemid=72

http://www.ebek-rdcd.gov.bd/images/ebek_and_others_model_compare.pdf

http://www.ebek-rdcd.gov.bd/images/project_digest.pdf

http://www.ebek-rdcd.gov.bd/images/brochure_english_250314.pdf

http://www.ebek-rdcd.gov.bd/images/project_at_a_glance.pdf

http://www.infokosh.gov.bd/atricle/

http://www.rdcd.gov.bd/site/page/a4f6c14e-f528-49b9-bef6-6c102d3dd303/

http://www.coop.gov.bd/