Moynul Haque Mridha, Rajbari

Some can't walk, some can't even speak properly, and some don't even have any body parts. Once they all used to beg at Daulatdia Ghat. But after leaving that job, they are now proud workers. They are making the necessary flower brooms with their own efforts.

And these flower brooms made by disabled people are being sold in Rajbari and surrounding districts. So they are now very independent.

It is known that hundreds of disabled people used to earn a living by begging at Daulatdia Ghat of Goalando Upazila. Goland Upazila Disability Development Organization was formed with 474 disabled people of Goland Upazila including Tara. All these disabled people have now changed their fortunes by trying to quit begging and become proud workers.

People with disabilities are making flower brooms on their own initiative. Every day from morning to night the disabled people are busy making brooms. Now few people are involved in this work, but in the future they are working to free all disabled members from the cursed life of begging. These helpless people of the society are working to stop begging and stand on their own feet. They are working as a broom factory at the Goland Upazila Disability Development Organization office on Daulatdia Ferighat road.

During the conversation, all these physically disabled people said that they used to live by begging. But since the inauguration of Padma Bridge, the number of vehicles and passengers at the ghat has reduced a lot. And that's when the disabled here were in dire straits.

The shadow of extreme despair descended on the world. Spending their days with the family became difficult. Because there were less passengers at Daulatdia Ghat, the amount of alms they came had decreased. That is why they start thinking of alternative actions. In this situation, the organization of the disabled took the initiative of making flower brooms with some of their members. And they are dreaming to live anew by making this flower broom. Now these disabled people are trying to stop begging and stand on their own feet.

Disabled Halim Sheikh said, once they used to beg. Now they quit begging and make flower brooms. You are much better now. They try to do the best they can to make flower brooms. They want the cooperation of all the society to make this initiative a success.

Locals said that the disabled here used to look at other people's money. They used to beg in different places of the ghat. But now they are working and eating. It is very happy.

Goalando Upazila Disability Development Organization general secretary. Monnaf Sheikh said that the raw materials for making flower brooms have to be brought from Bandarban or Khagrachari. We who are disabled go there and bring the necessary raw materials. No normal person works here except the disabled.

Goalando Upazila Disabled Development Organization president. Ratan Sheikh said, the members of our disabled organization use autorickshaws to sell flower brooms in different markets. Considering these disabled people, he requested everyone to buy flower brooms made by them. Besides, he demanded to waive the market rent for the brooms sold by them.

Goalando upazila executive officer Joti Bikas Chandra said, we applaud the efforts of the disabled. They have also been supported by the upazila administration. They have already been given a grant of Rs 1 lakh and an interest-free loan of Rs 2 lakh. We are with them.