Md. Nazir, age-30 used to ply cycle rickshaw on rent where the owner of the rickshaw used to take half of his earnings. The life was very difficult with three small children and a wife to support. He approached Azad India Foundation for interest free loan to buy rickshaw of his own. After getting information about his background AIF extended him loan of Rs 3000.

"I bought second hand rickshaw with the money given by Azad India Foundation. They did not charge any interest .I have repaid the loan. Now I earn Rs.60-70 per day sometimes even more. Life has become little easy now. I have put my daughter in the Government school as now I realize that education is very important in today's world. I am determined to educate all my three children."



Quasari Begum, age 25 years learnt tailoring from her brothers. Azad India Foundation gave her sewing machine on loan.

"I have taken sewing machine on loan from Azad India Foundation. I learnt tailoring and stitching from my brothers. I used to do small jobs like button stitching etc for them earlier for which I used to get Rs5-10.My husband was the sole earner with five mouths to feed. We had a very difficult life. Now with machine I take work from the shopkeepers like stitching of pillow covers etc. Now I earn between Rs 30-35 per day."





Md.Farooq, age-39 years is a tailor. He has got a small shop at Line Mohalla .He was given interest free loan of Rs.2000 for buying sewing machines and other accessories.

" I approached Azad India Foundation for a loan to buy new sewing machines. Now I get more work as I have more machines. I have been able to employ one more helper. I have now started repaying the loan."






Rani age 17 years learnt cutting and tailoring at Rasulganj stitching center run by Azad India Foundation. After successful completion of the course she was given certificate. She is proficient in ladies clothes such as salwar suit, frocks and skirts etc.

" I joined Rasulganj stitching center one and half years back. Now I am proficient in ladies clothes. I am getting small works from the local shopkeepers. I want to become self-independent as I belong to very poor family. My father died when I was very young.







Rafique Alam is a boatman at Pabna Ghat .He was an unemployed youth with a huge family to support. After Azad India Foundation gave boat at Pabna Ghat he has found employment. He now earns Rs.100 per day ferrying people across the river.







Sushila Selp-Help Group was formed in village Faringola under Project Pahla Kadam (ADB small grant program).There are 12 members in the group who contribute Rs 30 per month.

Azad India Foundation organized training in detergent and agarbatti (incense) stick making from Khadi Gram Commission for the group members. The group members then decided to start agarbatti making on small scale. They pooled their resources and bought raw material from Kishanganj and Siliguri.

After the incense sticks were ready the main problem was of marketing. The president of the Group Sushila along with her daughter Kalyani started selling to the paan shops, house to house within the village and extended family. They earned profit of Rs 100 which gave them hope and strength for the future. Again they bought raw material and devised new strategy. Now they do two type of packeting -one rupee and 10 rupees. One rupee packets are sold within the village and ten rupee packets are given to small shops outside the village etc.

They also have started giving money on interest to women within the group and village also. Earlier it was Rs 2 per month now they have raised it to Rs 10 per month within the group and Rs 15 for the women other then group.

This is only a small beginning of empowerment for these women of village Faringola, Kishanganj, Bihar







Maa Saraswati Self-Help Group is formed by men of village Faringola.When women of the village were organized under SHG and took training from Khadi Gram Commission under Azad India Foundation, men of the village were also inspired and decided to open their own group. Fifteen men came together and formed a group with monthly contribution of Rs 150.

They are pooling the money to do trading and small scale business .They are also using money to help needy people. Recently they helped father of young girl in organizing marriage.

The group members are also convincing other men and women in the village to start self-help groups to better their life. Now they want to buy tractor and have raised the monthly contribution.

They have also shown interest in getting training from Khadi Gram Commission.