A comparison between IAS 1995 and 1998-99 shows that the average income of the group members has increased from Tk. The percentage of dowryless marriages has also increased from 23 to 32. Infant mortality rate has decreased from 94 to 81. Group members' participation in salish and other local institutions has increased from 13 to 29 and 14 to 36 per cent respectively. In conversing with the people, one will readily discern a significant positive change in the social profile.
People have much greater access to public resources.
All sorts of discrimination and exploitation are reduced. Productive and environmentally sound natural resource management is practiced and occurrence of communicable diseases is significantly reduced. A significant number of people are functionally literate. Most of the children of school age are going to schools and the dropout rate is clearly lower than in other places of the country. Women have a much better social standing.