Title: Micro Credit & Women Empowerment Program

Donor: AB Bank and KMSS Core Fund

Thematic Area: Micro Credit & Women Empowerment

Project Duration: January 2000 to Present

Working Areas: Khulna, Batiaghata, Rupsha, Dumuria, Siromoni, Rajapur, Daulatpur, Bagerhat Sadar, Rampal, Morelganj, Fakirhat and Mongla of Bagerhat District, Jessore Sadar & Basundia of Jessore District

Program Summery

Focusing on the hard-core poor and the vulnerable community of the society, KMSS initiated its Micro Credit Program in 1999 with a vision of poverty reduction, women empowerment, upgrading living standard, educating and skill development, reducing dependence of the poor on local money lenders and facilitating disadvantaged people. KMSS is now operating in Khulna, Bagerhat and Jessore Districts with our core fund and Agricultural Loan from AB Bank Ltd.

The salient features of a group are quoted below:

• To empower the landless & the disadvantaged people.
• To facilitate additional income earning for the women to improve their economic status.
• Ensuring involvement of women in problem solving and decision making against adolescent marriage, multi marriage, dowry, divorce, abuse, violence etc.
• To reduce dependence of the poor on local money lenders and facilitating loan to those who are deprived in general banking facilities.
• Creating savings attitude among the poor people.
• Flourishing the hidden capabilities of members and raise their voice to achieve their legitimate social rights.

KMSS have approximately 11,000 group members among 700 groups and amongst them we are introducing various awareness activities through “Uthan Baithak” like health and health rights, HIV/AIDS, rights, access to justice, environmental issues, gender equity etc.

 Focusing on the hard core poor and vulnerable community of the society, KMSS initiated its micro credit program in 1999 with a vision of poverty reduction, women empowerment, upgrading living standard, educating and skill development, reducing dependence of the poor on local money lenders and facilitating disadvantaged people. The salient features of a group are quoted below:

• To empower the landless & the disadvantaged people.
• To facilitate additional income earning for the women to improve their economic status.
• Ensuring involvement of women in problem solving and decision making against adolescent marriage, multi marriage, dowry, divorce, abuse, violence etc.
• To reduce dependency of poor community people on local money lenders and facilitating loan to those who are deprived of general banking facilities.
• Creating savings attitude among the poor people.
• Flourishing the hidden capabilities of members and raise their voice to achieve their legitimate social rights.

Micro Credit Program of KMSS features at a glance

Membership Criteria

• Landless people or people having land, less than 50 decimals.
• Focus on the poorest of the poor (Ultra Poor).
• Especially focuses on divorced women, widows and many more.
• One active member is allowed per household.
• Member’s age limit should be in between 18 to 45

Homogeneous Group Features

• 20 to 30 members are gathered in a group.
• Groups are divided into cohesion groups of 5-7 members.
• Particularly groups are formed for women.
• Weekly meetings for group members.

Savings Mobilization

• Savings goes to the group fund.
• One should have 10 percent savings to get a loan.
• Interests on savings are given to the members as per the policy.
• Savings are refundable to all members when an emergency arises.
• Savings are completely refundable to all members when they are finally terminated.

Social Development

• Training duration: 8 weeks
• Motivation is given among members at group meetings
• Skill-based training is given among members by judging their strength like’s someone is getting expertise training on Fish Cultivation, Poultry Farm, Small Business, Sewing and Goat Cultivation etc.
• Positively motivated members get success so efficiently that they can back the received loan within 46 weeks installment
• The loan range is from Tk. 10,000 to Tk. 500,000

Most of the group members have not adequate financial resource so that they can use their skills for income generating activities. KMSS provide them soft loan with a soft interest on the basis of their need. Following the disbursement KMSS is having close monitoring and supervision in a regular way for proper utilization of loan.

Target Population

Hardcore & Ultra poor Women