The women who get financial assistance through the Nano Finance system are very important members of our team. The sustainabily of the Nano Finance system and the organization(s) is due to the women who understand the importance of returing their loans which recirculate multiple times among themselves and their friends. As a result, the women learn how to help themselves, help each other, and work with trust to assist other women who are in distress.
There are many such stories you hear from the women of Odisha when you meet them. Their affection and warm welcome will take you back to their villages to hear them stories with occasional simple complaint and expectation. Here is one of the founder's experiences worth sharing. During one of her recent visits, a person came to return the loan ($10) that his deceased wife had taken from AB. He said, “My wife took this loan from Aamara Biswas with trust and I can’t break her trust.” We did not accept the amount because he was not responsible for his wife’s loan. The TRUST is such a powerful tool on which Nano Finance system thrives.
When you meet Sabita from Balikuda village of Jagatsingpur district; she tells how Aamara Biswas has taught her and her friends to be financially independent and mentally strong. When she talks, she smiles with pride and joy at her progress and tells she is not scared of her husband any more. Now her husband borrows money from her.
Sumitra from Sambalpur town; she tells with tears in her eyes how Aamara Biswas has helped her and given her strength to survive with an alcoholic husband and three children. Now she is doing well and feels secure that in the time of emergency she can come to Aamara Biswas for help instead of going to a money lender.
After taking multiple loans of $10 and $20 for her coconut business, with the profits Suna has started a small shop and has been able to send her son to school. Suna now has multiple small businesses in less than 5 years. She prefers to take small loans which she can pay back easily without much constraint.
Dolly has the opportunity to make basktet and earn money while doing her daily house work by taking $10 fhrough Nano Finance system. She tells that this money helps her family to send their children to school. If they take the same loan from money lenders, they would be forced to pay 10% or more interest per month until they return the principal at one time. If there is no sale of the product, the family would end up with a large debt.
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Women experience empowerment by working together and combining their resources for similar businesses and they share in the profits equally.