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In Bangladesh, a section of the poor people are engaged in making paper shopping bags (Thonga). Their business is usually city-based and they produce paper bags from used papers. The use of paper bags to carry shopping items was quite prevalent in the past but decreased significantly with the introduction of polythene bags. As a result, most of the people engaged in this profession were in financial trouble. However, after the recent government-imposed ban on the use of polythene shopping bags, the use of paper bags has increased and the Thonga-makers have once again got an opportunity to earn money from this trade. The main objective of this participatory action research was to review the socio-economic status of the Thonga makers in four major divisional cities of Bangladesh, namely Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi and Khulna, and help them identify the problems they face, as well as their solutions and strengths. The idea is to help them change their situation by their own efforts. Study recommendations are : (i) a detail survey required for assessing the quantity of Thonga produced and sold in the country daily including the extent of investment (both capital and labour); (ii) investigation of different aspects of the profession as well as those involved in different stages of Thonga making. This is required to assess the suitability of the different components of the profession and how to make the profession more contributory to the maintenance of their subsistence; (iii) undertaking campaign among the Thonga makers for (a) not to damage the paper through unnecessary folding, tearing apart and (b) and not to store the papers with the disposals of the kitchen; (iv) forming organisations of the people involved with Thonga making; (v) undertaking capacity building activities of the Thonga makers enabling them to skilled in improved and clean Thonga making; (v) searching methods for cleaning used papers; and (v) developing a group of social catalysts who will help the Thonga makers to make them self-reliant without external assistance.
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