A case story of one "Anjuman"

Village: Dighi,

Thana: Singra,

Dist: Natore

"Sir, the present change of my fate is due to the contribution of ASA-Singra branch who offered me a new life". Said the respondent Anjuman Begum."

Anjuman Begum hails from a village called Dighi of Singra p.s under Natore district. She came of a very poor family. Anjuman is a deserted woman. After much trials & tribulations, she had obtained her M.A degree from Rajshahi University and tried her best for an employment either in a Government sector or NGO. But all went in futile. Finding no other alternatives, she learnt the art of tailoring at a professional tailoring shop adjacent to Singra Bus stand. After completion of the art of tailoring, Anjuman happened to meet a Loan Officer of ASA, Singra branch and got a clear concept about ASA's flexible savings & loan services, which impressed her much. A few days later, Anjuman enrolled her name as one of the ASA group members. She received 1st loan of taka 5000 in 2003 which she used for the purchase of a sewing machine and started tailoring at her residence. Subsequently, with the expansion of her professional work, the BM of ASA allowed her a small business loan of taka 20000. Anjuman used the loan money for purchasing 02 sewing machines. Later, she used to take loan every year and with that amount she purchased an embroidery machine and also two more sewing machines.

Afterwards, she began to impart training in tailoring to the poor girls of her village and thus earns taka 500 from each of the trainees in each month. Everyday, about 15-20 women undergo training over there. Thus Anjuman earn around 9000 taka per month.

Sometime in the year 2006, Anjuman took loan of taka 40000 (small business loan) from ASA Singra branch and started a "Beauty parlor" side by side of her own profession (Tailoring). At this, the daily income enhanced, and since then Anjuman began to earn around 15000 per month (net income) excluding all other expenses. As a result, she has now become a solvent one. Her living conditions, daily food habits, prestige in her society improved significantly.

The respondent told, "Sir, the present change of my fate is due to the contribution of ASA-Singra branch who offered me a new life. Once upon a time, I was almost in despairing that how to pull on, but by dint of ASA's financial assistances & valuable suggestions, I have been able to change my luck and also the other members of my family who are now living happily".

Anjuman had got married one of her year mate Kamrul Hassan (Manik) by name, while she was a student of third year and it lasted just for a couple of months. As reasons, Anjuman informed that her husband also got married two more women only a few months later marrying her. Knowing such undesirable facts through reliable sources, she got furious and divorced her husband and since then she did not get married again. Anjuman has been living with her parents and her younger sister.

"Soneka has become self-reliant utilizing NSKS' credit"

A very innocent as well as simple girl "Soneka" by name of a village Chandidashgati under Sirajgonj District could not make much progress in her education. In order to getting rid of the burden of the family, her father arranged marriage of Soneka at an early age with a boy Jibu Miah by name. Although, Soneka began her family life with hope and dream with a view to overcoming the appetite & poverty, but in fact, the "Almighty God" did not allow her to enjoy such a desirable life. Soneka gave birth a baby boy almost within a year. At one side, Soneka was passing her days with serious hardship and at this time she was very thoughtful and in darkness finding the Newcomer i.e. in what way and how she will manage the food of her baby.

At this moment, one of the nearest neighbors of Soneka introduced her with the Worker of the "Women and Child Welfare Organization". Having learned about the various advantageous she enrolled her name in that organization. Soneka purchased a weaver machine for her husband having loan of taka 5000. Since then she has succeeded her mission and she is now the owner of the eight Weaving machine. Apart from her husband, the other seven weaving machines are being operated by the professional weavers. Sonia herself also keeps busy in assisting her husband's day to day activities. It produces various items including sharee, lungi, Gamsa etc. Soneka recently received a loan of taka 20000. By this time, she has purchased a three decimal homestead land at a price of taka 40000 out of the income she received by using her preceding loan values. She has now two daughters and one son. The eldest daughter is in class VIII. Soneka keeps extremely busy all day long. She remains so busy with her daily routine activities that she finds no time to talk to other people. Soneka passing her days with her husband and children with happiness.

Case Study-01:

"Loans from ISDCM Fulfilled My Dream"

Mrs. Murshida Begum,wife of Kamal is one of the permanent residents of Village Karachmaria under Singra, Upazila of District Natore. Murshida's husband owns 12 decimals of land. Her husband Kamal is a professional day laborer who sells labor in the crop field as well as his own small garden. Kamal also helps her wife in their poultry farm. They have two daughters, both are in school. The elder one is 12 year old, who is in fifth grade and the other one is 10 who is in fourth grade.

Murshida took membership of the ISDCM on 1st October 2004. She heard about the name of this development organization from one of his neighbors who inspired Murshida in joining ISDCM. However, afterwards, she paid a visit to ISDCM's branch office and became happy on observing their activities. She took membership of a group in ISDCM immediately.

In reply to a question, Murshida told that making savings and taking loan were the major purposes of her joining ISDCM. She took 1st phase loan of Tk. 5,000 on 4th November 2005 and invested the full amount of loan in poultry business. She was also dealing in fish business. Murshida made a good profit in her poultry buying & selling business and repaid the first loan nicely and then took 2nd loan of taka 8000 on 16th November 2006 and invested the entire amount in the same business, as stated above. After repaying the 2nd loan regularly, she took the 3rd loan of taka 13000 on 12th February 2007 which she used in fish as well as poultry business. In reply to a question Murshida said,"Sir, we both the husband and wife are laborious and putting our effort as much as possible to make our businesses a success by offering better customer services. We are optimistic to repay the loan in full even before the stipulated time with a view to having big size of loan in near future".

Murshida informed that before joining this NGO, her living condition was very poor even the quality of their daily food item was also poor due to meager income. But in last couple of years especially after making financial transactions with the ISDCM, the life style has been changed significantly. Murshida is just not a saver and borrower in ISDCM but she also saves at her house in an earthen bank by selling eggs of ducks & hens almost regularly. Why do you save at your house? In response, she said" This savings might be of good use in future. I am planning to buy a small piece of land using my personal savings and profits out of my running business. I also save a handful of rice in every meal everyday. My husband always encourages me to save as much as possible. Besides, I have two daughters. It would require lot of money to settle their marriage. This is the best time to make savings as we are now active and energetic. I am also planning to open a five year term SDPS in any of the commercial banks for our old age. Because, we have no son so when we will get older, there will be nobody to look after us, so this would be very useful in future".

Case Study-02:

"Where there is a will, there is a way"

"The helpless women are being employed by Sahajadi"

"Industry is the mother of success"

Shajadi is one of the regular members of "Anamika Landless Women’s Group" in Rasulpur area of Saidpur PS under the district of Nilphamari, who joined a local NGO called "DNB" with a view to changing her fate by utilizing the loan in income generation activities. At first Shajadi took a loan of taka 5,000 and used it for buying a sewing machine. As the borrower Shajadi had good skills in the field of garment manufacturing items, she started making children garments.

The People of the locality liked her cutting & designs of the garment and as a result, her garment items gradually became popular. After repaying the 1st loan, Shajadi took 2nd loan of taka 8,000 and invested the loan money in her running business. With the expansion of her mini garment industry, the number of her worker and helpers also increased. As a result, her daily income enhanced gradually. At the beginning of the said mini garment industry, the husband of Shajadi used to work as day laborer in different sectors on no work no wages basis and the rate of daily wages was very low and it was very difficult to maintain their family. But for the last one year, her husband does not do any work elsewhere except her wife's garment industry. Her husband mainly remains engaged in marketing affairs. They have two kids and both are in school. It is to be noted here that the owner of the garment factory told" Sir, I give preference to those candidates who are widow, divorced and destitute, because those women are really helpless and I try to employ them. I am planning to take bigger loans from DNB to expand my business, so that I can create more employment opportunities in course of time. The NGO DNB is a blessing for me".

Shajadi claimed that her prestige in her society has been upgraded than before. As the daily income increased, her living standard has also been changed gradually.

Hasan’s Story

Ali Hasan of Satkhira sadar thana, Satkhira, completed his graduation in 1994 and started looking for a job. His parents also expected that Hasan would get a job and help the family to some extent. They spent their last penny to educate Hasan properly and didn’t think about their future. Hasan thinks this and tries his best to manage a job just to run the family but fails. Then he decides to do some income generating activities. But he falls in problem again and that is concerning fund which is needed to start the business. This time his parents fail to help him as they have already spent their assets for his educational purpose. Hasan tries to manage money from his relatives but does not get a good response from them. He becomes frustrated to think about his future. During this time he becomes introduced with a local ASA staff and he informs Hasan in detail about ASA Loan Programs. He could not believe that ASA would provide him loan without collateral.

Hasan was provided Tk. 30,000 as the first loan under The Small Entrepreneur Lending program (SEL). He bought 400 chickens and a milch cow with this money. After a certain period he starts to sell the products and earns a good profit. He pays the installments properly from the profit. After one year Hasan gets the second loan of TK. 70,000 to expand his business. This time he buys more 3 cows and invests the rest amount in establishing a Dairy and Poultry Farm. Later on he employs three persons in his firm. He has also built a better living place for the family members. Besides, he is planning to establish a bio-gas plant from profit of the business.

An intensive study on "Building Citizenship from below" was carried out during the year 2007 by the BRAC -Development Institute with the assistance of DFID under the leadership of Dr. Simeen Mahmood, in some of the fairly poor areas in Bangladesh. As many as the eight Organizations ( ASA, BRAC, Bangladesh Sramajibi Kendra(BSK), Grameen Bank (GB), Karmojibi Nari (KN), Nijera Kori (NK), Proshika and Samata) took part in this study. These eight organizations were categorized in to four groups according to their reasons for grassroots mobilization: primary micro credit provision (Grameen Bank and ASA); micro credit provision with other services like health and education, and some rights education and awareness building (BRAC and Proshika); rights to resources and social transformation (Nijera Kori and Samata); rights of labor specifically agricultural workers and casual laborers (Kormojibi Nari and BSK).

The study conducted by the BRAC-development Institute on "Building Citizenship from below" was a bold step in the field of establishing democracy in the third world countries.

ASA appreciates the initiative taken by BRAC-University with the assistance of DFID in conducting this important piece of research in some of the poorest areas in Bangladesh.

ASA-took part in this valuable research with a view to knowing the actual situation prevailing in the country. ASA being a financial organization got involved in such study not out of inquisitiveness only but also to know the real impact of the financial services on the poor villagers in terms of democracy practice.

The results in major cases of this study are positive. From the outcome, it is clear that though the impact of the financial services is indirect, but this impact is quite strong in the life of the poor community people.

Although, ASA is not a research based organization nevertheless it encourages the researchers to carryout study in its working areas. In future also, ASA will continue its present policy in this respect and try its best to extend possible support in conducting such a meaningful studies.