The inadequate working capital led Devi Sharan and Krishna Devi having to purchase goods every day (at normal rates) resulting in lesser return on investment. They had the tedious task of walking long distances in the morning to fetch goods daily and transporting the same on road was fraught with great risk.

About two years ago, when they were passing through a difficult period of life, they learned that a few women from her locality had taken a loan from Ujjivan. This prompted Krishna and Devi Sharan to join a group along with their neighbours in the vicinity for a loan of Rs.8000 from Ujjivan,

Devi Sharan used this loan to expand their petty shop business which was a major source of earning from them. After taking this loan, they were able to buy goods in bulk (at wholesale rates) and enhance their product ranges. This led to more customers from the neighbourhood pouring in and soon the shop catered to nearly 100 households.

Devi Sharan says, “The loan from Ujjivan has helped us a lot. We were able to expand our business and our earnings as well. Earlier, we used to sell goods worth Rs.250 and save 10% of this amount. Now it has gone up by three times and hence the earning has also multiplied.

Earlier, I used to bring goods from the market daily, but now I can purchase fortnightly at wholesale rates. This helps in enhanced earning and reduced stress of daily purchase. We are able to meet our working capital requirement for this business.”

Now they often go to the market together and return by rickshaw with the goods for their shop.

Even though, Devi Sharan and Krishna are illiterate but have become astute business persons as they stock and display only those goods which are in demand. They discourage credit customers but do provide it to those who keep their promise to payback on time.

After the first cycle loan, Krishna Devi took a top-up loan and thereafter she could have taken a loan of Rs.12000 but instead she and her husband opted for a second loan of Rs.10000, citing their limited capacity to repay the loan.

“Her mother tongue is Bhojpuri and hence sometimes we fail to understand. But when it comes to repayment and attending the centre meetings, she is always on time without fail,” said Laxmi Devi another Ujjivan customer, who is also member in her group.

Devi Sharan is a duty bound husband and does his best to keep his family happy. Recently Krishna Devi had typhoid and Devi Sharan had to shell out about Rs.4500 for her treatment. But despite this, just like every year, Krishna Devi is determined to visit her parents’ house in Varanasi district on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan (Indian festival for brother-sister relationships).

The intervention of microfinance has helped a large number of needy people. Krishna Devi and Devi Sharan have benefitted immensely through microfinance and are very proud of their achievement. After a lot of struggle, they have been able to earn and build a decent and respectable life for themselves, which is hard with such physical disabilities. They are now determined to make their daughter self-sufficient and lead a better life, no matter how hard they have to work for this.