Shorshodi Village Day 5 (August 12)

Thursday, August 12th, was my last day in Shorshodi.  We conducted a center meeting, helped with loan disbursements and had a last summary meeting before we had to head back to Dhaka.  Luckily, we also had the opportunity to interview a struggling member.  Struggling members are those individuals who are in extreme poverty and beg to survive.  These individuals are allowed to borrow up to 5K Taka to help basic needs or to establish a trade to lift themselves up from their condition.  Struggling member loans are not obligated to pay back the loan, but are encouraged to do so, in order to become a full member with extended benefits. 

Razia Khutum was a 50 year old widow with two sons.  She has had to resort to begging time to time in order to make ends meet.  Recently, she has taken out a 2K Taka loan to help finance a basket weaving business.  She showed us her goods, but confessed she has trouble marketing her products, and is 5 weeks late on her installment.  Much of the loan she had taken out had gone to buying food instead of her business.  Unfortunately, Grameen had not given her any counsel or financial advice with regards to loan she had taken, as they claim to.  Although the struggling members loan program is noble one and has had many successes among those who are suffering from extreme poverty,  it is a losing venture for Grameen Bank, and understandably so, due to the lack of attention given to those members. 

We went over some last minute topics and questions with the managers before we started back for Dhaka.  It was an exciting and informative week and I made many great new friends in Shorshodi.  My experience working at the branch level opened my eyes to the inner-workings of Grameen micro-credit.  Grameen had accomplished much in Shorshodi Village, and helped spur development by supporting closet entrepreneurs.  I had also seen enough to develop strong criticisms with some operational practices.