Confidence to stick to one business

This was my third visit to Dahod and I did see few changes, in terms of infrastructure. The farming lands in few areas are being converted to building societies. People are able to improve their standard of living and purchase affordable houses as mentioned by Bharatbhai, who accompanied me during this visit from Prayas (Milaap’s field partner in Gujarat). 


The next borrower belonged to Hazariyafadiya Rabda area of Dahod. 34 years old Sushilaben Girishbhai met me at the Prayas office located near her house. I met her during lunch hour as that’s the only time when she is free during the day. She spoke about her family that consists of her husband and two children. Her husband makes metal lockers and earns Rs 7000 per month. Her children are enrolled in a government school. Sushilaben sells vegetables in the near by areas to contribute towards the household income and educate her kids as she was uneducated.


With the loan of Rs 15000 from Milaap she purchases vegetables at a whole sale price. “The whole amount is not used to purchase vegetables, money is spent only on the quantity of vegetables is purchased in a day as vegetables don’t stay fresh for a long time. The fresh it is the better it sells” said Sushilaben.


The day starts by collecting fresh vegetables from the whole sale vegetable market and sell it in the market, near by colonies. She returns home during lunch hours, so that she can feed lunch to her children, later she returns to the market place to sell vegetables. In a day she earns between Rs 400-600. Her monthly savings are between Rs 1000- 2000. “The amount is spent on purchasing books for my children and also to purchase vegetable” said Sushilaben.


Sushilaben is thankful to all the people who have supported her with this loan as her vegetable business is earning her well and this makes her confident to never give up unlike other women in her area who experiment by selling different items but can’t sustain their small business.