Occupational Vulnerability and the nature of poverty: A study on Bawalis of Dacope Upazila

The study was conducted to assess the socio-economic conditions of Bawalis (wood craters) living in Dacope Upazila of Khulna districts. From January to February 2012, data were collected from purposively selected 120 respondents. Data analyses revealed that most of the Bawalis were Muslims and few were Hindus. In the study area, than half of the respondents i.e. 51.7 percent were from the age group of 31-45 years. About One-fourth of the Bawalis ie. 25 percent were illiterate, 62.5 percent lived in nuclear family while 375 percent lived in extended family. The average number of family member in each family was 6 58, whereas in most cases the number of earning in each family was only one Average monthly income was below Tk.4000. More than two-thirds of the respondents i.e. 77.5 percent had no boat of their own. They worked in the boats of the other persons known as Mohajons Bawalis face multi dimensional problems to collect wood from the Sundarbans. These are: dacoit, corruption of Forest Officials, Lack of capital to make own boat, Natural disasters, fear of attack from tiger or other ferocious animals and others factors like false court cases, health hazards etc Half of the respondents i.e. 57 5 percent faced the tiger at least 1-5 times while 19.2 percent never faced the tiger. The respondents who faced the tiger 6-10 times consist of 23.3 percent. Natural disasters and other constraints affected the livelihood of the Bawalis in the southwest region. Diseases and sufferings are ever present among the Bawali Community The Bawalis of Dacope Upazial are not exception to it. The highest 32.5 percent of the respondents suffered from Cold- fever while the lowest i.e. 1.7 percent of the respondents suffered from Cholera. On the other hand, Diarrhea, Jaundice, Pneumonia and others diseases were also common among the Bawalis. So, it is the crying need to protect the sources of income and make it a sustainable livelihood for the disadvantaged Bawalts in the southwest Bangladesh

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