Feature: How mobile phones transform lives of Dhaka's slum dwellers

If you think that only the well-off or those in the upper bracket of society use mobile phones, think again.

In depressed communities in Dhaka, even the slum dwellers are now using mobile phones and the new technology has transformed their lives. "Before, I was ashamed to use a cell phone. My neighbors would tease me in saying that the gadget is only for rich. But now I am used to it already,"said a slum dweller, who refused to reveal his name.

In fact, the use of mobile phones is now a must among many slum dwellers that are recipients of cash dole-outs from the government and international agencies.

An initiative to provide financial support to underprivileged Bangladeshi children has forced many slum dwellers to adopt the new technology.

The initiative has materialized through a UN Children's Fund ( UNICEF) supported project, called"Enabling Environment for Child Rights (EECR),"which is being implemented by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs.

As part of the pilot initiative, some 500 children living in the slums of Dhaka City will receive cash assistance for 18 months through mobile phone cash transfer.

Some 16,000 poor children in 20 Bangladesh districts are also being aided under the project through cash support.

These children and their families will receive 2,000 taka per month in three installments after they fulfill three requirements, namely 1) that the children must attend school; 2) that they must be withdrawn from any form of child labor and 3) that they must not marry before reaching the age of 18. "The journey that started with Grameen Phone, the United Commercial Bank and the government is a good example of Private Public Partnership in the realization of children's rights in Bangladesh,"said Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF Representative in Bangladesh.

He said the initiative could pave the way in the future to allocate more resources from the government and the private sector in expanding and maximizing the use of technology in uplifting the standards of living of the vulnerable groups.

In order to facilitate the new initiative, Bangladesh's largest cell phone operators, Grameenphone, has provided 500 connections and handsets free of cost to beneficiaries of the cash transfer scheme.

"I was reluctant to use a mobile phone. I thought it's a luxury for me or my family members. But now I think it's a must for us. I can now easily receive the cash money for my children through the phone,"said Abdur Rahman, the guardian of a child.

Rahman said he is now thinking of opening a mobile bank account for himself.

Another parent, Rahim Miah, who also got a mobile phone from Grameenphone, said it was now easy for him to receive the money for his daughter."Before, I used to think that cell phones were only for talking. Now, I can use it to check when I can withdraw the money for my daughter,"he said.

Miah said that he is happy that he is getting the money for his daughter direct from the bank without any intermediary. "I am very thankful that I am now using this mobile technology even if belatedly," he said.

On the EECR project, Delwar Hossain Azad, director of Financial Services of Grameenphone, said that "mobile money transfer is just one more way where mobile connectivity offers real solutions to real world problems while bringing greater accountability into the system and bridging the digital divide."

Delwar said that mobile financial service is now the most convenient way to provide safe and fast money transfer to the intended recipients and without any hassle.

"Grameenphone is committed to empowering people to improve their lives with meaningful solutions that harness the power of the Internet and GP's robust 3G network,"Delwar said.

The initiative also encourages family-based health care providers to extend medical care to children, especially orphans or those without parental care, through extended family members.

The money is provided to enable caregivers to invest for income generating activities so that they can increase their economic ability to continue and sustain schooling for the child, increase their purchasing power and improve their lives. Endi