Feature

Gratifying Aspirations of the Poor

Sabiha Mahmud Sumi

Classes and castes are all part of the classifications we tend to make when we think about people in our own societies. Classifications and their justifications belong to the prejudicial views we have among us all. Segregation of the poor and the rich is a method we all use to categorize people. With this on our shoulders, we still move along with the globalization in this world. Many in the upper class don't need too much to reach a high position in society but some who don't even have the minimum power to survive are the ones who pay the high prices. Poverty-stricken, the destitute natives are in dire need of a start up fund which will provide their families with constant financial support. Some people go that extra mile to make a difference which will help equalize the world to some extent. In a more clear statement, NGO's such as Bandhan and ASA help the underprivileged improve the quality of their lives.

Bandhan, an NGO changing the lives of many people out there is situated in the state of West Bengal in India and with the high population of impoverished people, this NGO has made its way to the top by conveying the message, “Hope for the Poor”. Chandra Shekhar Ghosh, the man running Bandhan, has worked his way up to the top by lending his hand out to the poor people, which has changed the lives of numerous people in several parts of West Bengal. One such woman, Joya Dutta has taken good advantage of this opportunity provided by Bandhan to improve her career and upgrade her family income to the next level.

Born and brought up in Kolkata, Joya Dutta's family consists of eight siblings, three sisters and five brothers. Considering the period back in time then, their family was under good conditions according to Mrs. Dutta. Their family was involved in a small business of producing and distributing incense stick products. As embossed in their culture, marriage played a huge role in their community, leaving education with low priority. This being the main reason of her early marriage and the interruption in her education which lasted till the 7th grade. Born in 1971 and married at the age of 16 she has managed to live a decent life. Now at the age of 36 she lives in her in-law's house with her husband and three kids. One daughter has already been married off. The other daughter has studied upto grade 8 and is currently living with them. The youngest child, a son, is involved in their family business. She produces pillow covers, bed covers and designs on many t-shirt products. With the assistance of Bandhan she has been able to expand her business by hiring workers and purchasing a new sewing machine.

She has become a member and has worked up to four fairly large loans. Her net income amounts to around Rs. 2000 per month. Not only is the family dependent on the income and so are the workers at the factory. In all this, Bandhan does play a major role in their family's earning of livelihood.

With the money they have been able to buy two new sewing machines and one new lock machine for the factory. Moreover, Bandhan has also given them a chance to organize their lives in such a way that they are now able to dream of a bigger goal. First mission being the expansion of this small business and second being the purchase of advanced machines so that they are able to make more exquisite items. . Bandhan started its journey in July 2002, with support from the president of ASA (an NGO in Dhaka, Bangladesh). Small groups in West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Bihar, Jharkhand and even Orissa have been developing this way, leaving Bandhan with 412 branches in 6 states; 2,125 staff members; 1,562 credit officers; 33,148 groups; 751,836 members; and 679,918 borrowers. By this time, 30 districts have been covered in total by Bandhan. As Mr. Chandra Shekhar Ghosh states, “Our organization is all about creating an ideal opportunity for financial empowerment of the poor”.

[The writer is a Bangladeshi student of grade 10 at Kodaikanal International School in Tamil Nadu, India] Mrs. Joya Dutta taking her career a step further.