CASE STUDY-4 : WHERE THERE IS A WILL, THERE IS WAY

When health crises exhausted their savings, 33-year-old Preeti Singh from Birbhum stepped up to rescue her middle-class family after her husband, Santosh, was forced to sell his income-earning e-rickshaw to pay for severe gastroenterological treatments. Transitioning from a volunteer for the Sahara Utsarga Welfare Society (SUWS) women’s empowerment program to an active Self-Help Group (SHG) member, Preeti secured a microfinance loan to launch a grocery shop right out of her home. As her business flourished and her husband’s health fortunately recovered, she utilized a second loan to purchase a new e-rickshaw for Santosh, effectively doubling the family’s income. Today, her home-based shop is a thriving neighborhood staple, sustained by savvy credit tie-ups with local suppliers, while her income successfully funds coaching support for her Class VI son, securing a stable and prosperous future for her family.