LEDARS
Basic Informations
Local Environment Development and Agricultural Research Society (LEDARS) is a non-profit and non-political organization that has been working for social, economical and environmental development of the poor and marginal people of the southwest coastal region of Bangladesh since 1996. The previous name of LEDARS was Gana Unnayan Shangstha (GUS). The name was changed to LEDARS in 2007 to address a government regulation and to avoid the duplication of another organization’s name in the NGO Affairs Bureau.
When unplanned shrimp cultivation, river erosion and various natural disasters compelled the coastal people to migrate to urban areas during the early 1990s, LEDARS emerged from a local club to a development organization to stand beside vulnerable people to support their livelihood security and establish their rights. LEDARS is registered under the Social Welfare Department and NGO Affairs Bureau, Government of Bangladesh. LEDARS is working with landless, marginal farmers, labour and women headed families, children and adolescents in the climate vulnerable area of Bangladesh.
Legal Status:
|
SL |
Authority |
Reg. No |
Date |
|
01 |
Social Welfare Department |
Sat- 241 |
11 May 1999 |
|
02 |
NGO Affairs Bureau |
2477 |
2 September 2009 (renewe |
Management of LEDARS
Governing body of LEDARS consists of 19 active, experienced and qualified rural development professionals. Governing body members are having 10–20 years experience in the development field. General members elect a seven member Executive Committee for a period of two-years from amongst themselves in accordance with procedures specified in the constitution. The Executive Committee formulates the policies and appoints an Executive Director who is full time staffs of the organization responsible for execution of the policies. He is supported by a group of committed and professional staffs. The Executive Director being the Chief Executive Officer of the organization is also the member-secretary of the Executive Committee and is the linkage between policy formulation and execution. On behalf of Executive and General Committee, Executive Director is responsible to operational activities, staff management, monitoring the activities and communicates with donors. Additionally it has an advisory committee for support the Executive Committee.
Executive Committee (2018-2020) of LEDARS
|
No |
Name |
Designation |
Gender |
Profession |
|
1. |
Mr. Bidhusoroba Mondal |
President |
Male |
Principal, Munshigonj Degree College |
|
2. |
Md. Nazrul Islam |
Vice President |
Male |
Freedom Fighter and teacher (Rtd) |
|
3. |
Mr. Mohon Kumar Mondal |
Secretary |
|
Development Worker |
|
4. |
Ms. Sujata Rani Mistry |
Treasurer |
Female |
Social Worker |
|
5. |
Ms. Shaheli Parvin Jharna |
Office Secretary |
Female |
Social Worker |
|
6. |
Mr. Ranajit Barman |
Member |
Male |
Journalist and teacher |
|
7. |
Mr. Manobendro Debnath |
Member |
Male |
Assistant Professor |
Address
Vision
To contribute in poverty reduction of the poor and marginal groups through optimum usages of local resources.
Mission
LEDARS supports and equips people with appropriate methods to raise their voice for establishing basic and human rights, in order to ensure livelihood security of the most vulnerable and socially excluded segments of the population.
Mission Statement 2021: To build an environment that will facilitate to reduce vulnerability due to climate change and empower women to develop sustainable model through our innovative intervention.
Objectives
- Raise awareness about adverse effect of environmental degradation and climate change,
- Building capacity of marginalized groups to cope with climate change in the areas of adaptive agriculture and alternative income sources,
- Conserving the bio-diversity of the Sundarbans mangrove forest and the coastal ecosystem,
- Creating access to education for underprivileged children,
- Organizing Sundarbans resource user community groups for sustainable resource extraction,
- Creating opportunities for the vulnerable poor to access necessary medical services,
- Creating opportunities for vulnerable women, especially female-headed households to create sustainable livelihoods,
- To establish a just society through conducting advocacy to ensuring a sustainable environment, human rights and good governance.
Major Activities
LEDARS has been working in the following 7 sectors since it’s inception to till now.
Sector-1: Climate Change and Livelihoods
Sector-2: Ecology and Environment
Sector-3: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
Sector-4: Human Rights, Good Governance and Gender Development
Sector-5: Education for Dignity
Sector-6: Health and Nutrition
Sector-7: Emergency Response
Head Office
Head Office:
Village: Munshigonj, Post Office: Kadamtala,
Upazila: Shyamnagar, District: Satkhira
Mobile Phone Number: +8801713462821, +8801854802300
Email: info@ledars.org, ledars.bd@gmail.com
Project Office
Shyamnagar Center Office:
All Modina Traders (3rd floor), Nakipur bazar, Shyamnagar, Satkhira
Kaligonj Center Office:
LEDARS, West side of Kaligonj Women College
Kaligonj, Satkhira
Koyra Center Office:
Gharilal Bazar, South Bedkashi, Koyra Khulna
List of Excutive Body
- Mr. Bidhusroba Mondal (Chairman)
- Md. Nazrul Islam (Vice Chairman)
- Mr. Mohon Kumar Mondal (Secretary)
- Ms. Sujata Rani Mistry (Treasurer)
- Ms. Shaheli Parvin Jharna (Member)
- Mr. Manobendro Debnath (Member)
- Mr. Ranajit Barman (Member)
Chief of NGO
Name: Mohon Kumar Mondal
Designation: Executive Director
Phone & Mobile No. 01713462821 (01854802300)
Staff Strength
| Staff category | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management and Supervision | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| Mid-level | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| Field Worker | 17 | 10 | 27 |
Infrastructure facilities:
| Particulars | Total Number |
|---|---|
| Training Center | 2 |
| Office Building | 6 |
| River Ambulance | 2 |
| Motor cycle | 8 |
| A/C | 3 |
| Fefregerator | 2 |
| Bicycle | 18 |
| CC camera | 11 |
| Table | 25 |
| Executive Chair | 25 |
| Training chair | 30 |
Network / Forum
Micro credit related information Last three years: (If necessary)
| Financial year | Amount of Savings | Loan disbursement (Cumulative) | Amount of Total fund (Tk) |
|---|
Project List ( Total Project : 7 )
Project Name : Strengthening Livelihood Security of Climate Change Vulnerable People
Doner : Bread for the World
Sector : Climate Change and Livelihoods
Area : Shyamnagar and Koyra Upazila of Satkhira nd Khulna district
Time Line : September 2012 to October 2022
Brief of activities :
The negative impacts of climate change make Bangladesh one of the most vulnerable countries in the world. Increased frequency of floods, droughts, tidal surge and cyclones caused extensive economic damage and impacted livelihoods of the poor and marginal population who have been living in the fragile coastal areas of Bangladesh. Extreme weather events, monsoon variability and Sea Level Rise (SLR) induced salinity have forced to change the traditional cropping patterns of agriculture that occurs serious impact on livelihood and food security of marginalized population. The all above situation increased hardship in the life of poor and marginalized people which forced people to migration. Considering this situation LEDARS is implementing “Strengthening Livelihood Security of Climate Change Vulnerable People” with the support of ‘Bread for the World’, Germany. The major activities of the project are:
People organization formation and awareness rise: LEDARS conduct a baseline survey. LEDARS organized 820 people by forming 35 Peoples Organization (27 Climate Resilience Groups, 05 Self Help Groups, 03 Farmers cooperatives). LEDARS raising awareness of beneficiaries by organizing fortnightly meeting, farmers filed school sessions, couple meeting, annual farming innovation fail, day observation, cross learning visit, printing and distribute easy reading materials (leaflets 15000, crop calendars 3000, posters 4000) and fixing 8 bill boards.
Promoting resilient agriculture: LEDARS building capacity of the beneficiaries on resilient agriculture by providing training on adaptive paddy and vegetable cultivation, provide seed of paddy and vegetable. LEDARS support farmers for efficient management of rainwater and available surface and ground water by digging 50 small ponds, re-excavate 03 canals, install 04 deep tube wells, etc to establish resilient agriculture in it’s working area.
Support for Income Generating Activities: LEDARS trying to increase income of most vulnerable 270 women and men including tiger victims widows by provide training on alternative income generating activities, provide seen money to women beneficiaries. LEDARS also providing assistance to women beneficiaries to establish small business, small-scale aquaculture, small cottage, etc.
Support for Drinking water and health care: LEDARS supports beneficiaries to have safe drinking water by excavating ponds and install 6 new PSFs, activating 11 in active PSF and distribute 40 rainwater among beneficiaries. LEDARS also providing health care support to 5000 vulnerable families including our beneficiaries.
Capacity building of staff: By this initiative, LEDARS tried to increase capacity of staffs by provide 13 daylong training, organize quarterly staff meeting and yearly retreat.
Strengthen Local Government: LEDARS has taken initiatives to involve local government to provide good delivery on climate change issue by strengthening their capacity of Local Adaption Plan Activity (LAPA).
Project Name : Development of Center for Coastal Climate Resilient (C3R
Doner : Bread for the World and own fund
Sector : Climate Change and Livelihoods
Area : Munshigonj, shyamnagar, Satkhira
Time Line : November 2016 to October 2022
Brief of activities :
The southwest coastal region of Bangladesh is one of the most disaster-prone areas of the country as well as in the world due to its geographical location. Due to salinity intrusion, sea level rise, frequent disasters, shrimp cultivation, river bank erosion, people are immersed in distress in their livelihoods which force them to extract resources from Sundarbans or to migrate to safer places for better livelihood. Almost every year, the area faces remarkable cyclones signal level of 3-7, which creates anxiety of the community people. The shrimp induced unemployed people are fiercely engaged into forest resource collection. While the poor people go into the Sundarbans to earn their livelihood, they often become victims by the tigers. A significant number of tiger victims’ widows living in this area. It is alarming that a significant number of people are under threated threatened and some are already migrated from this area for better and safe livelihoods. In the community, there are indigenous copping and adaptation technologies but that are not being promoted. Access to information on climate change, adaptation and mitigation is very poor. Considering the situation, LEDARS is trying to develop a Center for Coastal Climate Resilient (C3R) in Munshigonj union, Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira district. The major activities of the center are,
Establish a training facility for the community people and students: LEDARS bought 158.00 decimals land for the center and already developed training facilities by the financial support of 2 different donors. LEDARS already developed a three-storied building with well-equipped training facilities.
Development of demonstration plot on adaptive technology: In the center premises, LEDARS is demonstrating the viable climate adaptive technology like water treatment technology, climate adaptive irrigation system, different types of crop cultivation etc. Anyone can see the technology in the center.
Established a technology park: LEDARS is establishing a technology display center in the C3R campus. Viable adaptation and mitigation technologies for the coastal area are being installing. Community people, students, researchers, development activist can visit our technology park.
Established a laboratory: LEDARS established a laboratory in the center premises to provide support to community people. People can take support to test their soil and water in the laboratory.
Establishment of Knowledge Management Center: In the C3R campus, a knowledge management center is being developing. In initial phase a small library has been setup in the existing building. Student, community people, researchers visit every day. Besides this handbook, posters, newsletter, other relevant important document has been developing.
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