Micro-credit brings poor women's economic emancipation

A beneficiary changed her lot making bamboo-made fish traps. PHOTO: STAR

Fortune smiled on Nabiron, a mother of three sons, when ASA (Association for Social Advan-cement), a major NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation) came forward to her rescue by providing training and micro-credit for small entrepreneurs. ASA offered her a loan of 9,000 taka in 2001. Making good use of the loan she set up a bamboo-based cottage industry on her father's land. She started making bamboo- made traps to catch fish, locally called 'dohar.' She used to make a fish trap at a cost of six taka and sold it at 12 taka. Every Saturday she began to supply her product to the wholesalers from her house at the rate of 1,200 taka per 100 traps. The wholesalers sold her product to the adjoining districts of Faridpur and Rajbari.

"Now I earn 3,000-4,000 taka each month and my children are attending school," smiling Nabiron told this correspondent. With the profit she also built a tin-shed house last year.

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Once Telipukur and its surrounding villages were famous for cottage industries, locals told this correspondent. But due to shortage of capital and lack of part-ronisation, bamboo-based cottage industries faced ruination, they added.

However, ASA initiatives brought back the lost glory of the villages. At present 31 women at Telipukur village only are involved in manufacturing bamboo-made fish traps. The names of a few women like Nabiron, Selina, Monjina, Hasina, Zakia, Fatema, Angura, Nilupha and Pervin are worth mentioning.

Here is a story of another woman named Nilupha at this village. Only three years back the poor housewife, also mother of five children had to live in extreme poverty. Because her rickshawpuller husband could not feed his family of seven members with his meagre income.

About two years back Jagoroni Chakra, another NGO brought back Nilupha's good days. Jagoroni provided her with a microcredit of 8,000 taka. Utilising the credit she also started manufacturing 'Dohar'. Now her monthly earning rose to 4000 taka per month. She told this correspondent that she got her eldest daughter married to a man of her choice this year with her savings.