Grassroots advocacy facilitates union parishad budget for child nutrition in Satkhira

Three committees, formed by residents of Parulia union in Debhata upazila of Satkhira, known as civil society organisations (CSOs), are playing a significant role in negotiating with union parishad representatives to allocate a separate budget for improving the nutrition of children under five years old in the area.

Recently, 50 families in Parulia union received nutritious food and micronutrients for their children for a month, with a budget allocation of Tk50,000 from the union parishad solely for child nutrition. This allocation resulted from the CSO group's efforts.

The CSOs execute their roles under a consortium advocacy project titled "Right to Grow" by the Dutch government. The project is being implemented by six development organisations – World Vision Bangladesh, Action Against Hunger, the Centre for Economic Governance and Accountability Africa, Max Foundation, Save the Children, and The Hunger Project.

Started in 2021, "Right to Grow" aims to improve nutrition and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) planning, budgeting, implementation and accountability at various levels in Bangladesh. 

To achieve these goals, three CSO committees have been formed in each union. Currently, the project is being implemented in 40 unions across five upazilas of Khulna and Barishal divisions. 

Md Shafayet Hossain, a member of one such committee in Parulia union, said, "For the nutrition of children under five, we first go door-to-door to collect data on which children are suffering from malnutrition. We then meet with the union parishad chairman and members to negotiate the amount of budget needed to improve their nutrition. 

"Later, necessary budgets are allocated from the union parishad to support our efforts."

Also, the CSO groups are influencing the allocation of funds for improving hygiene and sanitation, such as constructing toilets and installing tube wells for clean water through the union parishad.

In addition, some female members of the CSO committees are also working as entrepreneurs, providing essential products such as sanitary napkins to women at lower prices than the market rate. To ensure lower prices, the committees have signed MoUs with brands such as SMC, ACI and RFL. 

One of the committee members, Rokeya Khatun, said many women often feel uncomfortable buying these products from the market. "We deliver these products to their homes at affordable prices."

Golam Faruq Babu, chairman of Parulia union parishad, said, "We form the CSO committees with local dignitaries. They come to us with requests related to nutrition, health, education and sanitation, based on the needs of their respective areas. We work to allocate separate budgets accordingly."

"Right2Grow" Project Manager Jaganmay Prajesh Biswas said the project works to form the CSO groups. "We assist in capacity building by providing training on how the committees should function."