Weaving dreams into reality
Sandhya Kabere from suburbs of Kolkata was once somebody for whom
things went constantly wrong, and yet she resolutely soldiered on...Despite her
husband's indefatigable efforts the bliss of an untroubled family life eluded them.
She and her husband used to merely grapple with her business of ready-made goods
in one perennial struggle for subsistence. The worldly-wise would say that even
in the worst of times there is an underpinning hope which keeps us going.
This kept alive the efforts of Sandhya and her husband even as they scraped through
the maze of life.
Then came Bandhan with its call of infinite possibilites.
It was unmistakable and Sandhya accepted the benevolence with open arms.
She enlisted her name with the nearby group "Keya" and took a Suchana loan of Rs. 5,000 which
helped her to firm up her fledgling, ramshackle business.
The subsequent Rs. 10,000 loan propelled her business even further as she purchased
a new knitting machine with that. Her entrepreneurial aspirations and indomitable
spirit helped her to accelerate the expansion of her business. As it started getting
the desired momentum, she came to know about Bandhan's graduate loan scheme--"Shristi"
custom-made for micro-entrepreneurs. Sandhya's quiet assertiveness prevailed upon Bandhan
and to fulfil the icreased requirement of her growing business, loans of
Rs. 50,000, Rs. 60,000 and Rs. 70,000 was disbursed in three successive years.
During this phase, she suffered a major setback with the passing away of her husband.
Fearless that she is, she clung on to her business because the future of her two sons
depended on her wholly. Needless to say, she made optimal utilisation of the available
amount and at present she is working wonders with the Samriddhi loan (MSME) of Rs. 1,50,000.
Her business has gained the much-needed terra firma with 45 machines and 55 staff under her.
Life is no longer dreary as it used to be as the nagging worries of money, food, shelter,
education, and health have been ironed out. Realising the potential of the business her
two sons devote full-time here. Her workaday aspirations have graduated to visions of secured
future for her sons, who have married recently. She is a proud entrpreneur who feels a great
deal of self-satisfaction for having generated employment for so many people.
Her socio-economic situation was much like them only a few years ago, now she is an example
before them. "We are grateful to Bandhan from the core of our heart and we really hope to
see it at the top, globally..." says Sandhya, her eyes gleaming with expectations.
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