Vidya’s Micro – Credit Scheme - Apoovra Mishra

When I met Rekha for the first time, I thought she looked like any young aspiring woman with dreams. I didn't see the crutches at the side when we all sat down. Rekha had polio as a child and was unable to complete her studies.

Rekha lives in a slum in South Delhi. She was approached by VIDYA's micro-credit field worker with regards to micro-credit loans on offer, to aid in small scale business set-ups by women, in the hope of not only increasing their income but also their self-esteem.

With the help of her mother, Rekha has been able to set up a small shop that sells tea, chocolates, cigarettes etc. She initially borrowed Rs 2,000 and was able to repay it. She has borrowed up to Rs 5,000 and is now hoping to receive a loan of Rs 10,000 to expand her business to include a STD call booth. In addition to this Rekha has been encouraged to complete her studies and had been given a hand operated wheel chair and help in getting her polio treated by VIDYA. This approach has certainly meant a success story in the face of questions over the effectiveness of micro-credit scheme.

After interviewing numerous loan recipients, it became apparent that those women who have managed to set up or expand their businesses have not necessarily been educated to a higher level than those that have not been successful but have had supportive husbands/fathers or non-interfering husbands or fathers. Due to either their circumstances, their husbands falling ill and not being able to provide for them or the benefits that many men see in increasing the household income, the successful women have been able to negotiate with their husbands. Most that I spoke to said that they had now become more confident and have more faith in themselves and their abilities.

In many cases the husbands are actively involved in the businesses and they are often the ones that handle the accounts and the expenditure. This does suggest, that in some cases, women still do not have control over household income and expenditure. What goes on within the household is a delicate matter, not least for any external agency which seeks to 'empower' women. In India, women who may earn more than their husbands still may not have the social or emotional support to live alone if they are trapped in a bad marriage. What does become clear is that there is a need to address gender relations; men and their attitudes and not merely address women's empowerment in a vacuum.