400 take part in study circle project at grassroots level

"The programme aims at enlightening principally the grassroots level people about their rights and role in a participatory system," Executive Director of DemocracyWatch Taleya Rehman said yesterday.

Organised and supported by US-funded National Democratic Institute (NDI) for International Affairs, the community-based awareness project is being conducted by four local NGOs -- Democracywatch, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), Gono Unnayan Prochesta (GUP), and Association for Environment and Human Resource Development (AFEAHRD).

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The areas of the pilot project include Kalkini, Shibchar and Rajoir in Madaripur; Mokshedpur and Gopalganj Sadar; Modhupur and Dhanbari in Tangail; Nalitabari in Sherpur; Mymensingh Sadar and different parts of Dhaka Metropolitan City.

The Democracywatch has undertaken the Study Circle programme in three unions of Mymensingh to identify ways to make the union parishads more effective and pro-people. And the AFEAHRD has been holding similar programme on environment and health.

The TIB held discussions on transparency and accountability in primary education, while GUP chose the topic 'Alternative Dispute Resolution' for discussion.

As a collective community effort, the Study Circle arranges public deliberations on an issue of common concern to make the people aware of their right to participate in a democratic process.

A mass education method pioneered in Sweden around a century ago, study circle is a peer-led discussion of usually 8 to 12 participants, who discuss and articulate problem-solving strategies for a positive change in a spontaneous and friendly atmosphere.

"NDI programmes in Bangladesh aim at facilitating the parliament, election process, development of political parties and civil society's participation in the democratic process," said outgoing Country Representative of NDI James Oliver.

To initiate public discourse on social and public policy issues affecting the citizens is one of the major endeavours of NDI in Bangladesh.