Ours schemes and initiatives have helped many out of a life fraught with hardship and poverty. Here are some encouraging stories of the difference we have made. This is only the beginning.
Restructuring Life
ANJANA BISWAS
Age: 35years
Marital status: Married
No of children: 2
Location: Chakdah, West Bengal
Loan amount: Her first loan amounted to Rs. 3,000, the second one amounted to Rs. 6,000
Occupation: She was a shop keeper before joining Bandhan
"I was almost penny less, Bandhan has uplifted me from the miserable condition and made my life livable”, says Anjana Biswas. Anjana and her husband almost had no means of income. They used to sell paratha on footpath. But most of the days their income was really low, even on few days there was no income. It was difficult for them to meet the daily expenses. They wanted to make their life better, but they had no idea what they could do.
Anjana heard about Bandhan from the neighbours. She joined the group and took her first loan of 3,000/- rupees from Bandhan. She used the entire loan for buying raw materials for the hotel business. Slowly she repaid the loan successfully and took 6,000/- rupees as her second loan with which she again expanded her business. She managed to rent big space for her hotel along side a highway. Being located at high way the lorry driver and the many passerby started eating at her hotel. The income from the business increased.
It has been a year since Anjana has left the rented house and living in her own house. Presently her daily income is 200/- to 250/- rupees per day. Sometimes she gets order for supplying food on occasions, then she earns a handsome amount. She has managed to buy a television and a bed on installment.
Anjana says, “After attending these groups regularly I have realized that I can also have a significant role in my family not only from the economic aspect but I also have a right to take part in the decision making process. Now both I and my husband take each other’s opinion before taking any decision. I feel I not only have a respectable position within the family but outside as well.”
Loan amount: Her first loan amounted to Rs. 3,000, the second one amounted to Rs. 5,000 the third one amounted to Rs. 8,000 and the fourth one amounted to Rs. 11,000
Occupation: She was a housewife before joining Bandhan
Basona’s husband was a daily wage earner. Their daily earning used to vary in between 50 to 80 rupees. But then there were days when there was no earning and the whole family had to go hungry. It was the most difficult time Basona and her family had to face. She could not feed her children properly and she was not in a position to send her daughters to school.
During this time a Credit Officer from Bandhan came to Basona’s home. He explained how Bandhan gives loan to the poor and how easily it could be repaid by the borrowers.
Basona became a member of the group and then she took 3,000/- rupees from Bandhan as her first loan. With this amount she started business of selling vegetables, her husband helped her to run the shop and keep accounts. She was told by the Credit Officer of Bandhan not to consume the loan amount to meet daily needs. She spent the amount in her business only. As soon as she was able to repay the loan she took a second loan from Bandhan. Now she is repaying her fourth loan which amounts to 11,000/- rupees. Presently Basona sells Saree and also makes imitation jewelry; her husband looks after the vegetable selling business. Now they have a monthly income of almost 6,000/- rupees.
Basona says, “Every time I took a loan and repaid it the condition of my family improved a little. I grew more confident. I used to live in a mud house, now I have a two room house made of concrete, there is also a kitchen and bathroom I have married off my oldest daughter in Uttar Pradesh, and the other one is studying in class nine. I will not marry her off soon, at least not till she completes her studies.” She also exerts, “Bandhan is a true friend of the poor, and we love Bandhan. When everyone turned their face off Bandhan extended help to me.” When asked what does she enjoys most in her life now, she answers, “There was time when we even could not feed ourselves properly, we had to go hungry. But now I can even order food from a hotel and when my children ask for it I don’t even hesitate for a moment.”
Loan amount: Her first loan amounted to Rs. 5,000, the second one amounted to Rs. 4,000
Occupation: She was a factory worker before joining Bandhan
Both Dalia Paul and her husband Shekhar Paul used to work in a hosiery factory. Their family income was a meager amount of Rs. 3,000. Sustenance was a major issue and the family faced regular financial crunches. Neither the family could afford to have two meals a day nor was education of their son possible. Life was a constant struggle for Dahlia and her family.
Her distressing condition was informed to Bandhan by one of her neighbors. The loan schemes provided by Bandhan attracted her and she joined Bandhan. She took a loan of Rs. 5,000 and bought a sewing machine. She started stitching clothes. With the income earned she repaid her first loan. This encouraged her to take another loan of Rs. 4,000 and she again bought another sewing machine. Today she has set up a small factory of her own and her income level has also increased.
The additional income from the factory has brought a sea change in their lives. Their son goes to school regularly and also their days of financial crunches have been declined to a large extent. She wants to strengthen her relationship with Bandhan by taking few more loans in the near future.
Loan amount: Her first loan amounted to Rs. 2,000, the second one amounted to Rs. 3,000 and the third loan amounted to Rs. 5,000
Occupation: She was a house wife before joining Bandhan
Poverty is a curse on humanity. It brings in a lot of other multifaceted ills along with it. The lives of many a poor people are chained because of poverty. So was the case with Murshida Begum.
Her husband Musharaf Hossain was involved in the wood business. The weekly earning for the family was Rs.200-250 only. Coming from a lower background class the parents were struggling to meet the needs of the family of seven members. The family also tried their luck in selling Phuchkas (puffed snack). The income out of this business was just Rs. 1,500-2,000 only. Murshida had plans of expanding the business of making and selling Phuchkas. The Phuchkas were fried at home and Musharaf sold them at the market place. This business was feasible for them to expand as most of the work can be done at home at their convenience. But they did not have sufficient funds to go ahead with their plans.
On knowing about Bandhan, Murshida herself went to its office and got herself admitted. The first loan that was issued to her was of Rs. 2,000. With this loan amount she was able to expand her business. On successfully repaying her first loan she took further loans of Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 5,000. Today their income is Rs. 5,000. The Phuchka selling have taken off well as they can invest more money today and also are able to meet the market demands.
Today, they are free from dire poverty. Their children are going to school regularly. Since the poverty has been downsized to a considerable extent the affection and attachment has increased between husband and wife.
Loan amount: Her first loan amounted to Rs. 3,000, the second one amounted to Rs. 5,000 and the third one amounted to Rs. 7,000
Occupation: She was a house wife before joining Bandhan
Nabanita Das, 32 years, lives with her husband Sukhdev and two sons. Sukhdev today owns a stationery shop. Nabanita is a housewife. Monthly income today is Rs. 1,500-2,000. Life has been tough on their part but they are bringing positive changes with the help of Bandhan.
Nabanita’s relative introduced her to Bandhan. Bandhan’s loan schemes impressed Nabanita and she joined the organization. She formed a small group of 12 members. Group formation is the first step towards taking loans from Bandhan. Her successive loan amounts from Bandhan were Rs. 3,000. Rs. 5,000 and Rs. 7,000 respectively. The first loan amount was invested in making plastic bags. The proceeds coming in helped them to repay the first loan. With the second loan Nabanita set up a stationery shop. Earlier Sukhdev was not involved in any work. With the shop being set up he remained busy with it and looked after the business. The third loan was used to expand the shop.
With such initiatives monthly income has increased to Rs. 4,000. Life has improved for them. The parents have engaged a private tutor for their children. The elder son is studying BA and younger one is at HS level. Not only the children started receiving education but also they have renovated their house. Earlier it was a thatched house and today it is concrete one. They bought assets like television for themselves. This has been possible because of the loans provided by Bandhan.
