Microfinance in Saboli

In addition to being empowered through knowledge, the micro-finance program run by the SHGs also plays an important role for most of the women. Through this program they are able to borrow money at a two percent interest, in comparison with the ten percent interest, or more, demanded by most of the private moneylenders in the area. One of my informants described to me that, thanks to the loan she got from

the SHG, she had been able to pay off her moneylender, and now she was ‘free’. The women are now able to rely on the SHGs for loans instead of being dependent on the private moneylenders. Amongst my informants, the most common reason for

borrowing money was house building/repair, and for health and other problems in the family. One of the informants told me that she had taken a loan of 3000 rupees to get her son an operation, which sadly did not work, and he had died. Not long after this, her husband got hurt in an accident, and she had to borrow 2000 rupees. During the last three months at the time, she had not paid back any money to the SHG since her husband could not work, and they did not generate any income. However, this was not a problem for the group, and she could pay back the loan when her husband had started to earn money again. Another informant told me that ‘we can take loan in an emergency by the group, so this is very good for us. So we can take loan for the solution of our problems’. Other reasons for taking a loan were weddings, education, jewelry, building hand pumps, and buying equipment like sewing machines, bikes and cameras for income generation. As I mentioned earlier, two of my informants had bought sewing machines and were sewing children’s clothes to contribute to the family’s income. None of the women I talked to has had any big difficulties paying back the loan to the SHG. They follow a plan to pay back the money, and have to do so within 10-20 months. If for some reason, they cannot pay back the said amount one month, they pay back a bigger amount as soon as they have the opportunity.

It was quite common for women in these groups to take out a loan on behalf of another woman, in order to help those who are not eligible for a loan or who need more money than they can borrow. Once they have taken a loan, they will not be able to take another until the first one is paid back. During one interview, they also told me that if two children are going to the same school in another city, one woman will go to visit both of them, thereby allowing the other mother to save both money and time. This is of course something they will do in turns so that the same woman will not go every time. These women were also able to see what was most important when

several women wanted a loan and there was only enough money for one of them.¹⁶ When such a situation had arisen in the past and three women wanted a loan - one for education, one for health and one for building a hand pump - they talked amongst them selves and decided that the women who needed money for a health problem should get a loan first because hers was the most important and urgent problem.

When I asked the women what their husbands and families thought about them being members of these groups, the response was usually positive. However, in one

particular area, called Harsh Vihaar, some of the family members felt that the group was not serious because the savings were too small to make a difference. There was also one other woman whose husband was not happy about her participating in the SHG-meetings. She was working from home, and he thought it better for her to stay home and work, instead of using her time in the meetings. When this one woman told me this, the rest of the group started to object, making the point that this was just the case with her, not with the rest of them, and the majority of the informant’s families were happy about the women’s memberships in the SHGs. In addition to helping them with knowledge and money, these groups also functioned as a mean for the women to create closer bonds as friends that in turn creates a much-needed way of support.

5.4 Summary

One cannot know with certainty what the situation would be like in Saboli today had FODRA not been present, but in my opinion it is pretty safe to assume that FODRA has made a difference in this area. Because of this NGO, the majority of the

inhabitants now have access to a private toilet, as well as an opportunity to be a part of the solid waste management program. These are measures that have ensured a healthier and better living environment for everyone in the area, and even though some of my informants pointed out that as long as their neighbors continued to throw

16 As far as I could understand, this did not happen often, and there was usually enough money for everyone who needed a loan.

their garbage into the street it would not have an effect, the majority of them thought the situation had improved since before FODRA had started their work in Saboli.

Keeping in mind the methodology problem I mentioned earlier, it is safe to assume that the physical changes that FODRA can actually document are real. However, in addition to these physical changes, there has also been a change in the way people think and act, and according to my informants, this is mostly due to the appropriation of new knowledge provided by FODRA. Most of this knowledge is provided through the SHGs and other activities arranged by FODRA. I was myself present at two workshops at the local office, and even though I did not understand everything that was being said, it was clear to see that a lot of the women were very eager and engaged in the discussion. The members of the SHGs have also been given the

chance to empower themselves financially through micro finance, which have helped them in many ways.

I am left with the impression that my informants do get a lot of benefits from being members of the local SHGs; even though they may only tell me the advantages and leave out the disadvantages due to the presence of the FODRA staff. When I visited the SHGs, I got the impression that most of the women were good friends who shared stories and giggled together just like any good friends would do, which I feel is a very important aspect of life. The SHG meetings provide an opportunity to go out, meet other women, and get engaged in the local community - all activities that might have been harder to do had it not been for the SHGs. Through the SHGs, the women not only get a chance to learn how to manage money, but this experience will most likely build women’s capacities and confidence as well, thus putting them in a better

position to improve their own situation.