Back ground

Social Development Service (SDS) has established as a non-government, non-political, non-profit voluntary development female headed organization. It established in the year 2000 by the main initiative of a women activist named Ayesha Akter along with some social organizers at Panchbibi Upazilla of Joypurhat district. Observing the vulnerability & poverty of deprived population and women exploitation with gender discrimination in the society where women are not the partner of national development and inactiveness of women in the development structure. But in the country male and female ratio is 50% and this 50% workforce is out of development so with only by the 50% male workforce it cannot be achieve the 100% development of country in this case 50% female workforce must be the development partner of 50% male work force. On this concept these women activists united with likeminded aim to establish a development organization to empower the women and deprived population about their rights and scope for basic needs enhancement and develop their skills to be potential workforce of community and country and unite the deprived population and women to raise their voice against exploitation and discrimination and enhance their rights and dignity in the community and nation with gender equity.

Joypurhat district situated at the northern region of Bangladesh it is border area of Bangladesh and India. Maximum population is depending on agro based day labor or share croppers and small trade because maximum agriculture land of this district is belongs to few landlords and for that reason general people are depend on agriculture day labor or share croppers. Due to the financial poverty and lack of awareness they are deprived from the rights of education, health and all other service benefits. Due to minimum education & skills rate of the vulnerable groups employment scope is out of them so the unemployment is one of the main issue of this area so for this reason they are getting involvement in smuggling, drug addiction and some other anti social activities due to the land port is very close to this area. On other hand as they are low income labor that is why women are exploiting and torturing without any reason. Due to unemployment many of them involve with drug abuse. The livelihoods of low income people have effect on early marriage, multiple marriage and dowry and getting target of several social bondages. Agricultural lands are losing fertility due to extensive inorganic agro crops production due to population is increasing rapidly. Forestation is decreasing and agriculture lands of aboriginal people are going to housing settlement. Women groups are totally neglected and exploited in the development issues and have no initiative to involve the women work force and leadership to participate in the development context. Later this women activist realized that by the male headed and male activists organizing it cannot be possible. Only by the women headed organization it can be possible because a women organization can understand and realize the problem and lack of women capability and needs. So with the strong determination of gender development SDS has established at Joypurhat District with some defined objectives and goal. It gives first priority on women education and empowerment on skill development to be an earning member of the family and society. Because if a women is educated and workforce for the family and society and financially capable to contribute in the family and society development she will have demand and value to the family and society and will deserve for development planning of family and society then only she will get potentiality and dignity in the family and society. And it will be possible for the nation to have 100% development as the inactive 50% women workforce are educated and skill and are participating in the national development planning. SDS is implementing integrated development activities among the most destitute and vulnerable women, children and men who are out of development access.