In 2008 we contacted Margdarshak, a microfinance organisation working from Lucknow to assist women to lift themselves out of poverty by funding small enterprises and offering business support. We asked if they had any clients who could provide us with embroidery. Our plan was to pay fair market rates to the craftswomen directly, cutting out the middle men who profit by paying so little for their beautiful work. Margdarshak introduced us to Neesha, who has since supplied us with embroidery services to our mutual benefit – she receives the middle man’s profit, and we are confident that our product is ethically produced.
We have nicknamed Neesha “The Tigress”, for her feisty nature that is the real key to her success. In March 2009 we visited her at her home in Barabanki, and were treated royally to an introduction to the women who work for her, and to a tour of the village. Below is a profile of Neesha, provided by Margdarshak. Her determination and tenacity shine through in this story.
A brief profile of Samirun Nisha – A female entrepreneur supported by Margdarshak
Based out of Barabanki, Samirun Nisha is one of the first microfinance clients of Margdarshak. Married at the early age of 14, Samirun has learnt by doing. She started doing stitching on a piece basis for Gandhi Ashram handicraft outlet early in her married life to supplement her family income. Earning Rs. 1.50 (AUD 50c) for each piece of cloth that she stitched gave her a meagre income of up to Rs. 300/- per month (less than AUD 1.00 a day). Utter poverty forced her to shift to Lucknow (the state capital, located 40 kms from Barabanki), where she started working as a helper with an enterprise involved in chikankari (embroidery) production and marketing. Accompanying the owner for various works, Samirun gradually picked up the nuances of the trade and gained the confidence to look at this work as a long term career. Despite shifting away from Barabanki, she maintained her working relationship with Gandhi Ashram by travelling between the two places on an almost daily basis – two hours each way by bus.
Having worked in Lucknow for 5 years, in 1997 Samirun had the confidence to move back to Barabanki and start her own work. Starting with zero capital, she would get pieces embroidered and stitched by the community women and market them in small trade fairs. Participating in one of the fairs, Samirun landed 3rd prize for the beautiful work she presented, and she realised that participating in exhibitions and trade fairs would provide her with a steady stream of work.
Margdarshak’s loan of Rs 10,000/- (approx. AUD 300.00) in 2007 enabled Samirun to invest in the purchase of raw materials and develop a consignment for marketing in more remunerative fairs and exhibitions. She meanwhile developed a cadre of 20-25 women in her locality to work for her and developed their skills for chikan embroidery. In 2008, Margdarshak supported Samirun in establishing linkages with Zenana Women, an Australian export house, which enabled her to increase the margins on her work. Within a short period of 4 months Samirun has been able to execute orders worth Rs. 40,000/- for Zenana Women. She now is employed round the clock and says that now she does not know what a slump in work is.
Continuing her trait maintaining old relationships, Samirun continues to participate in trade fairs in places as far as Kolkata and Mumbai. Additional loans of Rs 12,000/- and Rs 15,000/- from Margdarshak have enabled Samirun in providing employment to about 25 women in her locality, including her widowed daughter. She now clocks monthly sales of Rs. 60,000 to 80,000/-, which enables her in earning up to Rs. 5000/- per month (about AUD 5.00 a day) for herself and her family. Urging Margdarshak to establish its own line of chikan embroidery, Samirun motivates women around her to use microfinance for entrepreneurial ventures and serves as an example not only for other women of her community but even for Margdarshak.
