In Dinajpur’s Khatanga Para consists of 80 families, known as a Santal village, a 21-year-old mother named Shakila (pseudonym) begins her day at dawn. Like many others in her community, she works in the fields, manages household chores, and takes care of her family. Yet, when it comes to important family decisions—such as children’s education, household expenses, or land ownership—her opinion is rarely valued.
To better understand the challenges faced by this marginalized community, Youth for Policy’s local youth volunteers researched issues related to education, women’s rights, government services, employment, and natural disasters. The findings revealed deep-rooted inequalities that limit both women’s participation and the overall development of the community.
Following the research, the Youth for Policy team organized a Social Accountability Regional Forum, where local stakeholders gathered to review the findings and discuss how these problems could be collectively solved. During the discussion, Shakila shared her reflections, saying, “We women of this village used to believe that only men could make decisions about family matters. But today, I have learned that women—who dedicate their lives to caring for their families—also have the right to speak up and take part in decisions that shape our lives.”
The forum provided a platform where both men and women expressed their views on land rights, women’s empowerment, and access to education. Village leader Hemram Soren emphasized, “If we can arrange regular awareness meetings involving both male-female parents, teachers and children, they will become more interested in education and more conscious about their rights.”
Md. Fazlur Rahman, headteacher of Idgah Government School, shared, “I have worked in many places, but this is the first time I directly spoke with members of the indigenous community. It was truly fulfilling to inspire them.”
Participants from diverse backgrounds—including teachers, parents, youth, and NGO representatives—also shared their realizations. Sumi Kisku, an NGO worker, said, “Today’s program opened our eyes to how important it is for women to speak up. Whatever the topic, I will now make sure my voice is heard.” Swilen Tudu, a parent, added, “This is not an easy task, but from now on, I will focus on encouraging my children to express their opinions about their studies and other matters.”
Hema Hazra, a local school teacher, observed, “I have learned that when men and women work together, every problem can be solved. From now on, we must act collectively.”
At the end of the discussion, participants developed a joint action plan—to educate and empower young women to become confident decision-makers, organize regular meetings among teachers, parents, and village leaders, introduce short- and long-term training programs for women to prevent dropouts caused by financial hardship, and form a monitoring team to oversee the progress of these initiatives.
Through this forum, participants realized that true community transformation cannot be achieved without ensuring women’s education and active participation in social and family decision-making. The Dinajpur forum served as a powerful reminder that empowering women and fostering collaboration between men and women is essential for building an inclusive and sustainable future.