Assignment
jang.yu
Bangladesh21.pptxBangladesh
Status of women
Relatively high, especially compared to India, other S. Asia
Female LFPR – 58% (double India)
Fertility rate = 2.3, fallen from 4.5 in 1990
Female Prime Minister and 20% Parliament members
Low maternal mortality and few underweight children
NGOs
Much of relatively high status of women and social indicators compared to other S. Asian countries due to role of NGOs
Both Grameen Bank and BRAC originated in Bangladesh
BRAC
Originally Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee formed in 1970s to rebuild after war/famine
Employs 100,000 – 70% women – in handicraft, dairy and food production, fisheries
Funds used to invest in literacy, community centers, community health clinics
Funds village organizations to assist women, small farmers and landless rural residents
Funds vocational training for women
Operates primary schools – 60% female students
1000s of clinics provide immunizations, contraception and family planning, help with breast-feeding
Grameen
Formed in 1974
To end predatory lending to poor
Provides micro-credit to form small businesses
Claims 99% repayment rate and is funded largely through repayments
94% ownership by borrowers
90% loans to women
Often requires that borrowers children be enrolled in school
Encourages savings
Government
Corrupt – works closely with garment firms
Most businesses report paying bribes
Estimated that capital flight = 3x all foreign aid
Taxes/GDP – 10%, partly due to tax evasion
Consequently, inadequate revenues >>> fall in health, education funding as %GDP. Health insurance limited, but has invested, with NGOs, in clinics and in sanitation
Also low infrastructure funding contributes to low FDI
