EXTENSION OF BITAC 
FOR 
SELF-EMPLOYMENT AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION 
THROUGH HANDS-ON TECHNICAL TRAINING  
HIGHLIGHTING WOMEN

(SEPA)
Project

BANGLADESH INDUSTRIAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTRE (BITAC) 

MINISTRY OF INDUSTRIES
GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH

 1. Background

“Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper” (PRSP) is giving emphasize on the participation of women in different technical fields by building their skill through various vocational and technical training. Since technology is the strategic variable in the modern entrepreneurship development, woman workforce enriched with technology i.e. technical know-how and skill, will make a drastic change in overall socio-economic situation of the country.

Creating job opportunity for men and women is also heavily and rightly stressed upon. Industrialization is the only means to grow this sector. To develop sustainable industry, technically trained manpower is the vital issue. Bangladesh Industrial Technical Assistance Center (BITAC), an organization under the Ministry of Industries established to give the technical support to the industries, can play a vital role by training young generation specially the group who are not able to cross the secondary education level due to various social and economical hindrances.

For development of industries, presence of certain factors is very essential.Firstly, there must be available adequate number of technically capable manpower to run the industries efficiently. Secondly, the industries would need technical advice to overcome the problems that they face during operation of machineries. This service must be provided to them promptly.Thirdly, the productivity of the industries must be increased, which would require use of appropriate technology, adoption of improved tools and processes, use of indigenous raw materials, etc. This involves R & D works, which could be undertaken by some agency on behalf of the industries and results delivered to them. Fourthly, for repair and maintenance work, the industries would need various types of spare parts, prompt and timely supply of which is key to keeping the industrial units operational. Development of the spare parts locally is, therefore, of vital importance.

Bangladesh Industrial Technical Assistance Centre (BITAC), under its charter, is entrusted with the responsibility of providing the above-mentioned services. The four centres of BITAC located at Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna and Chandpur   provide the necessary services to the industries both in the public and private sectors.

During the last two decades, the government of Bangladesh has undertaken enormous effort for the educational development of women by waiving tuition fees up to HSC level including other facilities. As a result, the percentage of women education in the country has increased tremendously. To provide the educated women in different organizations or institutions, some technical education and training are required. Women who completed up to higher education level are not getting jobs for want of practicable technical skill. Besides these, some other groups of women who are deprived from the above opportunity are victimized in the society for social placement.  Now this is the accurate time to trigger towards the skill development of this kind of underprivileged and distressed womens, so that they can earn their livelihood and contribute towards the enhancement of GDP. For participation of women in economic activities, they must have adequate and appropriate capacity as well as self-confidence & courage to engage in income generating activities against social and economic hurdles.

To build such capacity, thorough and practical hands-on training must be provided. This training must also be suitable for real life job situations that women of different age groups and education background are likely to encounter. Such trainings should enable women to compete in technical job market on equal grounds.

The Bangladesh Industrial Technical Assistance Centre (BITAC), an organization under the Ministry of Industries, is entrusted with the responsibility of providing Technical Trainings and dissemination of Technical know-how for industrialization in the country. It can play a vital role by providing appropriate technical training to poor, underprivileged and distressed women only by addition of some equipments and financial assistance. BITAC has long been at the forefront of technical training in the country with necessary infrastructure, environment and decades of experience.

Due to the socio-economic condition in Bangladesh, the contribution of women in economic activities is very low. In a recent survey by BBS it is revealed that women entrepreneurs constitute only 7.4% of the SMEs. To increase their participation, BITAC can arrange suitable technical training that can impart necessary skills and self-confidence which will enable them to set up small workshop for self employment. This will lead to encourage the development of SME and foreign employment. It will also help to empower impoverished and deprived women of the country. Some recent requirements of technically skilled manpower in International Market in the relevant fields are shown in Annexure – X.

Women who did not complete secondary school education may be set as target group-1, widows or divorcees without economic backing and middle-aged distressed women as target group-2 and educationally qualified but jobless women as target group-3. Trades, contents and goals of training can then be set to suit each group’s diverse need. It will thus ensure participation of women at proper levels.

2. Commitment of government

Bangladesh achieved its independence thirty eight years ago through the supreme sacrifices of thirty lakh Bengalis, three crore displaced people and half a million abused and tortured women. Today, the country stands at the crossroad of history.
Present government Awami League’s Vision 2021
Present government is committed to free Bangladesh from its current state of crisis and building a country whose citizens are able to live prosperous and happy lives. The year 2021 will mark the golden jubilee of Bangladesh’s independence, while the year 2020 will be the hundredth anniversary of the birth of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. We envision a democratic system where people choose their government freely and get services from it without hassle, enjoy freedom from fear and intolerance, live with dignity; where every citizen is assured of social justice, environmental protection, human rights and  equal opportunities; and where the rule of law and good governance flourish.  We envision a liberal, progressive and democratic welfare state. Simultaneously we envision a Bangladesh which by 2020/2021, will be a middle income country where poverty will be drastically reduced; where our citizens will be able to meet every basic need and where development will be on fast track, with ever-increasing rates of growth Considering the existing politico-socio-economic crisis, five subjects have been given priority:
Five Priority Issues
1. In The Face Of Global Financial Crisis, Maintenance of Economic Stability   And Control Over Commodity Price Hike
2. Effective Action against Corruption
3. Power and energy:
4. Elimination of Poverty and Inequity:
5.  Establishment of Good Governance:
To eliminate poverty and inequity the following strategy and aims will be followed for socio-economic development:
i. The main strategy of poverty reduction will center on bringing vibrancy in agriculture and rural life. Social safety net will be extended for the ultra-poor. By 2013 poverty level and proportion of ultra-poor will be brought down to 25% and 15% respectively. At present there are 65 million poor people in the country. This number will be reduced to 45 million by 2013 and will further come down to 22 million in 2021. Revision of the just formulated PRSP will be undertaken

ii. Employment guidelines: A comprehensive employment guideline will be formulated aiming at poverty reduction, solving unemployment problem and making citizens’ lives meaningful. The core components of the guidelines will be: a. creating employment opportunities in rural economy b. providing credit and training for self-employment c. creating employment opportunities for wage-labour in industries d. promoting sub-contracting arrangements between big and small & medium scale industries and e. providing special training arrangements for facilitating export of labour. The number of unemployed people in the country, estimated at 28 million, will be reduced to 24 million by 2013 and will be further reduced to 15 million by 2021.

3. Role of Ministry of Industries 

Bangladesh is a developing country, and the present government is striving relentlessly to attain rapid economic development in the country. Many programs
taken so far have been carried out successfully. Despite a lack of resources faced by the government, development programs in the key sectors have continued. At the same time, considering the importance of the private sector, an all-out support is being provided to initiatives taken in this sector. As a result, a new kind of dynamism is under way in both the public and private sectors. In this backdrop, it is essential to examine various aspects of industrialization and its impacts on overall economic activities.

To reduce poverty and generate employment opportunities, more efforts are needed to establish agro-based industries as well as to raise agricultural production. This will ensure the protection and fair price of agricultural products and employment of a huge number of unemployed people. In order to create further employment opportunities beyond the agricultural sector, initiatives should be taken to set up small, medium and large industries across the country. If these types of industries are set up in a planned way, then unemployment rates will decline and poverty alleviation will be accelerated. With these objectives in mind, the Industrial Policy of Bangladesh has been radically reshaped.

4. Functions of BITAC

1. To train industrial personnel to upgrade their skills.
2. To provide technical assistance to industries through technology transfer, manufacture of import substitute machinery parts, advisory and consultancy services.
3. To assist industrialization of the country by promoting productivity, quality improvement,   cost-effective production, usage of local raw materials and indigenous techniques, etc.
4. To provide technical assistance to the industries in various fields including plastic technology and related tools, jigs, fixtures and metal processing die, etc. 

5. Justification of the project for BITAC

BITAC has a very well organized mechanical manufacturing infrastructure having training facilities to achieve its main objectives of research & development, technology transfer and skill development. BITAC activities can be used to comply with government’s emergency crash program to eradicate poverty by employment through providing hands on technical training without expending any extra money.
Also it facilitates the growing industrialization by providing technically skilled manpower. Priority for girls in the project has to be given to reduce the prevailing gender inequity.

6. Project theme

HIGH WAY TO ENLIGHTEN LIFE

Young generation is the main force of a nation but less opportunity of education due to   poverty, unemployment, uncertain and dreamless life, on the other hand is the most dangerous hindrance for prosperous future. Life in dark, full of grievances as well as in hunger can transform into a enlighten life by hands on technical training in proper way  to address the huge demand of technical manpower due to rapid industrialization in home and abroad.

As industrialization is the main key of success for prosperous life, endless demand of technical manpower creates huge job opportunity.

Government provides the necessary facilities for hands on technical training including food, lodging, transport allowance, books etc. through BITAC,

This is not an ordinary technical training program. The training package is designed on the basis of demand, firmly targeted towards the goal of employment, directly linked with the demand of the factory and self employment program.

The package includes adaptation, motivation and physical fitness along with technical skill development

Unemployed poor youth specially distressed girls live in village are to be selected on the basis the degree on helplessness. The degree has to be counted through point system related with income of family, education, burden of the family. Orphan, widow, tribal are to be given priority. The prescribed applications having necessary information are to be collected through mass advertisement.

The mechanical manufacturing facilities including highly educated, experienced and skilled manpower of BITAC having residential facilities located in different zones of the country are to be used for the training.