The continuation of the government’s “Tothyo Apa” (Information Lady) project depends on the demand from grassroots women and the honesty of those delivering the services, said Mumtaz Ahmed, NDC, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs. Speaking at a special awareness courtyard meeting held in Badarpur Union of Patuakhali’s Sadar Upazila on September 25, she emphasized that the government is committed to empowering women and protecting their rights through various initiatives.

However, she noted that eliminating superstition and poverty requires strong local-level awareness, and the Tothyo Apa project can play a key role in this effort. The event, focused on preventing child marriage and violence against women, was organized under the Tothyo Apa project and chaired by Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Iffat Ara Zaman Urmi. It was attended by officials from Joyeeta Foundation, the National Women’s Organization, the Department of Women Affairs, and local information officers.

Participants—mainly local women—expressed that such programs increase awareness and help them actively educate others in their communities. They appealed to the government to continue the project. The Tothyo Apa project, implemented by the National Women’s Organization under the Ministry, aims to empower women through ICT by providing information and support on health, education, agriculture, law, gender, business, family planning, and cybersecurity.

Recently, project workers staged protests and hunger strikes demanding their jobs be transferred to the government’s revenue sector, citing concerns about job security and project sustainability. The Senior Secretary acknowledged these concerns and highlighted the importance of integrity and community demand in determining the project’s future.