Sage Advice for a Battered Wife

Over many years, AmIna Begum had become resigned to a life of grinding poverty and physical abuse. Her family was among the poorest in Bangladesh--one of thousands owning nothing, living as squatters on desolate land. People in her squatter settlement worked as day laborers, when work was available, or operated micro-businesses that kept them in deep and constant debt to loan sharks.

In 1993, AmIna convinced her husband to move to the village of Kholshi, where she had one relative. Perhaps her relative would prevent her husband from beating her so brutally. But the abuse continued--until she joined the Grameen Bank. Aloka Ghosh, a Hindu neighbor, told Amina, a Muslim, that Grameen was forming a new group in Kholshi and encouraged her to join. Amina doubted that anyone would want her in the group. But Aloka persisted. "We're all poor--or at least we all were when we joined. I'll stick up for you because I know you'll succeed in business."

Amina's group joined a Grameen Bank Center in April 1993. She was elected secretary. Her first loan was $60. She gave half of it to her husband for his trading business and used the rest to start a chicken and duck raising business.

When she repaid her loan and began preparing her proposal for a $110 loan, her friend Aloka gave her some sage advice: "Tell your husband that Grameen does not allow bank members who are beaten by their spouses to remain members. Tell him if you are beaten again, you will never get another loan.” Amina informed her husband of the rule and received her second loan. Her husband never beat her again. Her business continues to thrive and provides her family’s basic needs.