Anita Das, aged 36, lives in the village of Ghona in the Islamkathi Union of Tala Upazila, Satkhira District. Her family consists of her husband, Bimal Das, aged 50, their first son, Krishna Das, aged 18, their second son, Biplob Das, aged 12, and their third son, Akash Das, aged 7. The family has a total of five members. Her husband works as a day laborer and struggles to make ends meet. Due to financial hardship, Anita’s first son, Krishna, could not continue his education beyond a certain point, while her second son, Biplob, studies in the 5th grade at Uttar Ghona Government Primary School, and her third son, Akash, is in the 2nd grade at the same school.
To manage the household, Anita’s husband would borrow money at interest to pay off installment loans, which led to constant conflicts and disputes between the couple. The situation created a lot of tension in the family.
Through the “Human Rights Protection and Assistance Program for the Upliftment of Dalit and Socially Marginalized Communities” project, Anita Das was informed about the possibility of starting a small business. She was advised to open a grocery store in the village and sell essential goods, which could provide a good profit. After being convinced during a community meeting, Anita agreed to the proposal. On August 24, 2022, she received training in “Small Business Initiatives” and was given a non-refundable check of 5,000 Taka to start the business.
With this money, Anita started her grocery store, which became profitable. She now earns about 1,500 to 2,000 Taka per month. The family is now experiencing peace, and Anita is able to pay off the interest loans, cover installment payments regularly, and save 200 Taka every month at the Tala Sahapur BRAC NGO. Her future dream is to educate her children and give them a better life.