DanChurchAid
Bangladesh
Standing firm
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| Salma Begum |
In fact, when Salma had applied to join an RDRS Group seven years ago, her neighbours turned their backs because they thought she would not be able to repay loans. Until then, she and her husband, rickshaw-puller Tafsir Ali, lived a hand-to-mouth existence and were always needy.
“I told the Members, please make me a member, give me a loan; I will pay it back at any cost. Seeing my enthusiasm, they let me in and RDRS provided me with 2,000 (USD 29.41) Tk for the first loan of my life.” Salma recalled her entry into the micro-credit programme in 2000 when she bought dry fish and other goods for her husband to sell around the area. Later, he was able to invest in a small shop but initially, from the money, with careful management, Salma was able to buy livestock for her own business.
After that, Salma borrowed a further 8,000 (USD 117.64 Tk to buy a rickshaw which she rented to a puller in the local town. This brought in more profit which, with more loans from RDRS allowed her to expand her homestead farm – today, she owns 50 pigeons, 10 ducks, 12 hens, six goats and two cows. No matter how meagre her profits, Salma has made it a rule always to save something from each project.
“Just from selling pigeons, I earn 1,500 ( USD 22.05) Tk a month which I deposit in the bank for loan repayments. The money from our small shop provides for household expenses and our savings.” Salma has no hesitation in expressing herself. “From the 90 decimals of land I’ve bought, we have enough rice to eat, unless there’s calamity, like flood.”
RDRS local branch manager, Abdul Gafur, describes Salma as enterprising and a model for others; he is proud to work with her, he says. On the other hand, soft-spoken Tafsir Ali, just smiles at the mention of his wife’s success. As a husband, he is happy; as a father pleased that his children go to school. “I hope my son will pass MA and my daughters be more qualified so that we can live better in the future,” Salma adds. But on the matter of her involvement in local politics she says “I’ll grow and grow; my projects will be bigger; I’ll be able to say goodbye to want and I’ll help family members and neighbours.”
By RDRS , DanChurchAid partner in Bangladesh
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