Staff Correspondent
After nearly three decades of living without a permanent address, families in Rupnagar Bede (Gypsy) settlement in Dhamrai are finally seeing a way out of years of uncertainty.
The Dhaka district administration has allocated khas land for their permanent settlement, provided sewing machines to 25 women to help them become self-reliant, and sanctioned Tk 5 lakh for improving the settlement’s infrastructure and living conditions.
Dhaka District Commissioner Farida Khanam handed over the assistance at a programme at the district administration’s conference room on Tuesday.
For around 30 years, members of the Bede community have lived in Rupnagar area of Kulla Union, often on land belonging to others. Before settling on land, many of them lived and travelled on boats as part of their traditional way of life.
But even after settling on land, they remained without the security of owning a home or having a permanent place to live.
The latest initiative by the district administration seeks to change that.
As part of the support package, khas land has been allocated for permanent housing for the community. Twenty-five women were also given sewing machines so they can earn an income and contribute to their families’ financial wellbeing.
The women had sought the machines through the district administration’s ‘Hello DC’ initiative. Their applications were considered following a visit by the district commissioner to the settlement.
Officials said the initiative was aimed at creating sustainable livelihoods rather than leaving the community dependent on government assistance.
Another Tk 5 lakh has been allocated from a special fund of the upazila parishad for development of the settlement’s infrastructure and improvement of residents’ living conditions.
“No marginalised community can be left outside the development process,” Farida Khanam said at the programme.
“The Bede community is also part of our society. We are working to bring them into the mainstream by ensuring permanent housing, employment opportunities and access to education for their children,” she said.
The district commissioner said government assistance should help people become self-reliant rather than merely provide temporary relief.
“We have to create opportunities so that people can change their own lives. We hope the women of the Bede settlement will become self-reliant through self-employment and help strengthen their families financially,” she added.
On August 20, Farida Khanam visited the Rupnagar Bede settlement and spoke directly with residents about their problems. It was reportedly the first field visit by a district commissioner to the settlement in nearly three decades.
During the visit, residents highlighted their lack of permanent housing, limited employment opportunities and difficulties in ensuring education for their children.
The district commissioner then assured them of steps to address their housing and livelihood problems.
Within weeks, the administration began acting on those commitments.
For the residents of Rupnagar Bede settlement, the new support means more than a plot of land or a sewing machine. After years of living with uncertainty, they now see the possibility of a permanent home, an income for their families and a better future for their children.
