Had she not got assistance from Tejaswini programme and women’s self-help group, Afsana might have lived life of a worker throughout her life. Now, she owns a bakery. She has given employment to seven other women in her bakery. Afsana now earns Rs30,000 instead of Rs3,000 per month. Afsana, a resident of village Narayanpura (Natpurva) in Chhatarpur district used to work as worker at a bakery 12 kilometres away from her village. Due to exploitation of factory owner and frequent nagging by family members, Afsana made up her mind to cease living.
With this decision in her mind, Afsana was sitting with other members of Khwaja Ghareeb Nawaz Group. Women members of the group noticed that Afsana was upset and asked reason behind it. Afsana narrated her story. Women of the group found out a solution immediately and advised her to open her own bakery. Afsana thought that this advice is just an effort to placate her since she did not have money to invest nor anyone to provide the amount. The group asked Afsana to move forward with assurance to help her.
The group immediately made a payment of Rs30,000 to her. Using this money, Afsana got constructed an oven, but it got demolished within a few days. Afsana got depressed again, but the group continued to support her. It again gave Rs30,000 to Afsana, using which she again got constructed an oven. later, the group helped Afsana avail Rs2 lakh loan through Tejaswini programme from micro financing body Sanghmitra.
Afsana regained her confidence and started working with full might and dedication. Afsana, who was a worker in bakery earlier, is now owner of her own bakery. She has given employment to seven women of the group. She produces buns and toasts daily, sells them for Rs6,000 earning net profit of Rs1,000 per day. Now, both Afsana and her family are happy.