Wednesday, 15 October 2008

Poverty - one way out

Photo of a traditional loom from Flickr/Anduze traveller. Creative Commons Licence

Nasima lives in Bangladesh. She was married at the age of twelve. Her husband had no shelter so the couple had to live in a hut made of thatch in Nasima’s uncle’s house. Silkworms and a handloom were her husband's only assets. Both of Nasima and her husband were physically strong enough but they had no means of generating any income.

Besides doing some domestic work Nasima used to help her husband in his work. Within a few years three babies arrived. They faced extreme hardship then, as they had no cultivatable land or alternative sources of income. In spite of the miserable conditions Nasima sent her children to school. The family expenses were steadily increasing.

At that time a visitor came to Nasima’s house and told her about the advantages of being a member of a microcredit borrowing group. Nasima discussed it with her husband and decided to join in a group of the Society for Social Service (SSS).

Nasima started to deposit savings of Tk. 5/- in group meetings. There are about 70 Tk to one US $. After a few months Nasima took out a loan of Tk.1,500/- for the first time. Adding some money of her own she bought another handloom with this amount.

Things were a little more comfortable after purchasing the second handloom. Even after repaying the loan installments, Nasima could meet the family and education expenses from the income of handloom business. She took out further loans. She invested the entire loan amount in her handloom business and as a result her income started to increase rapidly.

Nasima learnt about health and hygiene in group meetings, which motivated her to install a tube-well for pure drinking water and also a sanitary latrine. She made some furniture and bought land to build a house from her savings. Now she has 16 handlooms. She employs 16 full time workers. She gives them Tk. 230/- for producing one sari. Nasima keeps the accounts of her business herself. Nasima’s elder son is in class twelve, her younger son in class ten and her only daughter in class nine. Nasima is not interested in early marriage for her daughter.

Nasima learnt about health and nutrition, how to raise poultry, grow vegetables, and how to manage hre micro enterprise from SSS. She is proud to be a member of SSS.

Today Nasima has earned the respect of her family and neighbours. Her husband discusses any decisions with her, and Nasima's neighbours are benefiting from her business. Poverty is not an unalterable state - it can be changed. But we have to help.


  1. That is just such an uplifting story. It only goes to show that from small beginnings great things may grow. This is so much better that big companies chucking money at a problem(particularly when most, if not all,of that money ends up in the hands of politicians.

  2. Not only do I want to thank you for supporting Blog Action Day, I also wanted to comment on this story. It is very encouraging. I am glad to read such a tale of triumph instead of defeat. Very cool indeed.

  3. That is such an uplifting story. People need to know there is help and hope out there for them.

  4. I have seen the poverty in third world countries and it upsets me to think that half the world seems to have it all and the other half struggles to exist. We really need to do much much more to address this situation.

  5. I am becoming more and more enamored with the idea of micro credit/mini loans. I have read many success stories. Sometimes the solution doesn't take huge amounts of money. Thank you for this post.

  6. Nice...
    In my country government try to increase home industry, but the result is not yet :)


  7. @Capybara
    Apologies for getting on my high horse, but 1/5 4/5 would be more accurate than half and half.
    Not in any way having a pop at you, more making the point for any visitors who've never even thought about it.
    Buying fairtrade is another way to help out.

  8. One of the best world poverty day posts I've read today. I like how you started with a story, I was wrapped in.

  9. this is very encouraging... for all the women... for all the women in the midst of poverty. thanks for sharing.


  10. A. I haven't been by in a while. I really like the idea of micro loans. It gives people some dignity. It is not seen as a handout. Good story.

  11. The micro loans are such a wonderful instrument!!! great post, it shows there is some hope but there is still much to do to fight poverty.

  12. This is a positive, exciting post. I'd no idea that so much could be done. Thank you for all the information.

  13. It's great to hear stories such as Nasima's as it teaches you that your life can be improved as long as you take initiatives to make it happen.

    There are ppl in the world who just complains about the state they're in but does absolutely nothing to improve it.

    Thank u for sharing this lovely story :)

  14. Yes It's great to hear such stories. Nasima is a nice personn who takes the good decision even if the used are different in her country. She must be very courageous. Yes, people around the world need us.

  15. Hearing s stories like these and seeing the poverty in the world makes me realize just how much I do have. At times I think we all take things for granted. Great post.

  16. I was trying here to be a little more upbeat about the possibility of improving the lot of some people who do find themselves trapped in poverty, and that there are ways we in the more affluent parts of the world can help. It's not going to be a complete solution because there are always going to be people who can't cope for themselves.


Forethoughts, afterthoughts, any thoughts. Tell me.


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