Rangpur: As many as 30,000 extremely poor rural women have become economically empowered through various income-generating activities (IGAs) with the Palli Sanchay Bank (PSB) easy-term loan assistance in the district. With PSB assistance, some 45,000 rural beneficiaries, including 30,000 women, have become solvent through IGAs at home and have graduated from the extreme poverty level.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Senior Officer of Rangpur Palli Sanchay Bank (PSB), Md Mahidul Islam, stated that the PSB is now benefiting over one lakh members of Village Development Samities (VDSs) in all 77 unions of eight upazilas in the district. The beneficiary VDS members have received revolving loans, small and medium enterprise (SME) loans, and skill enhancement training on fruit farming, pisciculture, goat, sheep and cow rearing, cow fattening, nursery, and poultry.
PSB beneficiary Asma Khatun, 58, of village Mollapara in Ramnathpur union of Badarganj upazila, described her journey from a life of hardship to empowerment. She narrated how she survived with her children after her husband left her 28 years ago. In 2012, she became a member of the local VDS and received her first revolving loan of Taka 10,000, which she used to buy a heifer. Asma successfully repaid her loans and expanded her investments into cows and agricultural land, which now yield rice crops twice a year.
Similarly, Golsena Begum, 48, from village Iswarpur Kandupara in Chandanpat union of Sadar upazila, shared her experience of overcoming poverty. Her husband's earnings were insufficient, but after joining the local VDS in 2012, Golsena invested in livestock and land, significantly improving her family's living standards. She now sells milk daily, owns multiple cattle and poultry, and has assets worth over Taka twelve lakh.
Chhabi Rani of Bahagili village in Kawnia upazila transformed her life through a betel nut business, utilizing loans from PSB. She invested in agricultural land and improved her home, now possessing assets worth Taka eight lakh. Similarly, Anwara Begum and Shapla Khatun from village Bamondighee in Taraganj upazila have also improved their living standards through animal husbandry with PSB assistance.
These success stories highlight the significant impact of PSB's easy-term loans on empowering rural women economically, transforming their lives, and elevating them from extreme poverty in Rangpur.