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Maksuda, the Dream Merchant
“It is my cherished
dream that I shall make my tea- stall a full fledged big restaurant where
food will be served, and also equip my mobile phone business with the
communication facilities at international level”, Maksuda Akter Rani, 33,
from Paltakanda village of Bhairab upazila under Kishoreganj district broods
over a desired future glory she may be bestowed with in the days to come.
What is superb about Maksuda’s dream is the very fact that she has been able
to dream at all, of something which is realistically achievable. Because for
a person like Maksuda, a petty huckster earlier, selling trivial items like
chocolate, toothpowder, comb, cosmetics, ribbons, clips etc. survival was
the ultimate concern. Thinking beyond that was unimaginable. She did not
have a house to live in and had been a tenant at other people’s house. Life
was full of struggle and often poverty would win over her. At the day’s end,
her abode was not an alluring place for her, it was just an effort to pass
the night to wake up in the morning of another identical day of utter
hardship. But Maksuda was not to give in. She was in search of a way out.
She attended some meetings organized by BEES in her locality where she came
to know Md. Emdadul Haque, Field Worker, BEES. He explained BEES’ strategy
and principles to her, which showed her a new light. “With their orientation
I came back to my village where I organized some other women from my
neighborhood and formed a group named ‘Paltakandad Mohila Samiti.’ From then
onwards I have been involved with the group and my life has turned out to be
on a different track, leading towards sure success.
As a group member I
have received loan from BEES for a number of times and I have invested the
money in my peddling business for the first time followed by clothes
trading, tea stall and mobile phone business. But taking such a drastic turn
could not have been possible if I did not receive the support, the right
direction to choose the best path as a means of materializing my ambition
into achievement. Earning a reputation by regularly paying off the
installments I have been able to take loans a number of times and in
increasing quantities. The profits from my entrepreneurship have been
increasing bringing me good luck”, Maksuda says. Now Maksuda’s monthly
income from her tea-stall and mobile phone business is about Tk. 7,700.
Maksuda goes through her success story, “I could not run business properly
because of inadequate capital. The loan from BEES has enabled me increase my
capital for business venture. From the profit I could even save money after
paying off the installments. At times I would invest the savings in business
and earn higher profit with increased capital. Now that business has been
expanding I have involved other members of my family into business. My
perseverance, proper planning and business skill have reached me at this
stage. Now I am no more a petty peddler but I am the owner of a stable set-
up, a tea–stall and mobile phone business. I have made a house of my own, an
abode where I really belong. During my struggling days, there was none to
stand beside me. But BEES’ support has empowered me. BEES’ supports have
been diversified. A substantial development has been possible for me from
socio-econo-cultural perspective’’.
The financial
upliftment of Maksuda has been nourished further with knowledge and practice
of basic principles of an entire well being like gender awareness, health
and hygiene awareness, education and its importance, importance of
environment conservation, protesting early marriage etc. Maksuda herself
feels that her position in the family has become more decisive and so is in
the society as well as her social accountability has increased. A sea-change
has taken place in Maksuda’s life. While she thought herself to be a burden
to society, now she feels that she belongs to it and belongs very
confidently where she can participate in social arbitrations, enjoy her
citizen’s rights like casting vote, can work parallely with the male members
of the society. Due to her change, her entire environment has changed. A
proud owner of a profitable business concern Maksuda finds new hope when she
sees her tea stall crowded with clients caring for a hot drink with a little
snacks or when her mobile phone links people exchanging talks over a
distance. These ventures mean profit for Maksuda while kindling a new light
through the days to come. Who knows may be that day is not far away when
Maksuda will become the happy proprietor of a big restaurant as well as a
phone network connecting a wider range of people.
Maksuda could have
been either perished or merely survived as a non-entity in the society. But
her amelioration has been a dream come true leading ways to dreaming
realistic dreams paving their ways towards the reach of Maksuda. The driving
force behind it? Ask Maksuda, she will express her gratitude to none else,
but a true friend, a guide, a way forward, BEES with the backup support of
her will power, industry, proper planning, business wisdom and perseverance. |
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The
Secrets of Success
If one does not have
financial solvency, one cannot have social status either. Kalpana Akter
suffered the same kind of humiliation and denial from her surroundings.
Hailing from Sarishabari of Gazipur district, Kalpana Akter came to live in
Deshipara, Gazipur, where her husband Md. Ismail had come earlier in search
of work. They had some agricultural land in Sarishabari but they could grow
very little crops as the lands were in low-lying areas. They had to go
through a lot of hardship. Therefore they sold their land and bought some
decimals of land at Deshipara. Kalpana was intent to do something for the
sake of better living, to establish herself in the society. She came to know
of BEES and its credit program from the elderly woman of the house next door
and decided to get involved in BEES group. This woman introduced Kalpana
with the BEES personnel, who in details explained to her the poverty
alleviation program of BEES along with the integrated support services.
Kalpana was impressed and convinced doubly to become a group member with the
motivation she received from BEES personnel. Now Kalpana feels that, it was
the turning point of her life, as she looks back. Kalpana and her husband
wanted to do something profitable but they had fund constraint. This problem
came to a certain solution with Kalpana’s involvement in BEES group. She
discussed her intention with the BEES personnel and he showed her some
option of income generation from which Kalpana could choose. With his
guidance Kalpana planned to establish a poultry farm and received a loan of
Tk. 6,000 for the first time in April 2,000.
Kalpana recalls her
productive pursuit, “With my own little capital money along with the Tk.
6,000 received from BEES, I bought 500 chicks. Within 6 months the chicks
grew up and started laying eggs. Next year I received Tk. 15,000 as loan
from BEES and bought more chicks. Thus my farm gradually expanded year after
year as I received Tk. 25,000 and TK. 30,000 as loan through the successive
years, which I invested in my poultry farm. Even after paying off the
installments, profit was enough to bring me solvency. I have a good record
at paying back the installment money to BEES enabling me to receive higher
amount of loan. However, I have been paying the installments of my latest
loan regularly and already I have completed 13 installments. Next time I
hope to receive Tk. 80,000 and wish to make permanent pucca shed for my
poultry.”
Kalpana’s exemplary
success did not come so easily. Adhering to her strong will power to win
over poverty and sufferings Kalpana put her all out effort in her poultry
farm. Kalpana knew that her diligence would bring her the success she had
been craving for. Industrious and optimistic, Kalpana even went to the
extreme of taking care of the poultry sacrificing her sleep at night. Her
utmost concern was centered round her farm. Kalpana was not alone in her
venture. Her husband was a constant shoulder-lender to Kalpana, while the
same man did not believe in equal rights of men and women and would not
consider her opinion as of much importance. “The economic upliftment has put
me on a pedestal both in my family and outside. I have become much empowered
now. I owe it to BEES not only because of the financial support but also
because of the advice, the extended help with the techniques of poultry
rearing and management through training. I have been able to develop my fate
by exploring this resource. Now my farm has grown so big that I have
employed two helping hands. To my satisfaction two persons are generating
income in a country like ours, where unemployment itself is a big social
problem. My monthly income is now Tk. 11,200 after all the expenditure of
the farm. My past toils are over. I have bought 2 ‘bighas’ (66 decimals) of
land. I have also bought some furniture for my home. Anybody can see my
happiness from the life I am leading. Involvement with BEES has also made me
aware on basic health and hygiene, gender equity, water supply and
sanitation, nutrition, education and so on. I am getting a lot of benefit
from BEES. BEES distributes good quality seeds of vegetables every year. By
cultivating those in my kitchen garden, I am also growing vegetables which
are fulfilling the nutritional needs of the family to a great extent. We are
getting health services from BEES health program. It seems like BEES has
taken up the noble job of developing our life in every respect and I feel
myself very lucky to be a part of it. I am sending my son to school. He is
in class four now. I hope to educate him and that is my dream because BEES
has taught me that there is no alternative to education”, says Kalpana.
Kalpana’s rise is
exemplary to the other women in her community. Kalpana does not at all
hesitate to advice others to follow her path. She voluntarily advices others
the ways to change the luck and also the basics of well being. A happy and
self helped Kalpana Akter believes that she has made the saying come into
reality “Industry is the key to success.”
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