Shakeela, 40, came to Delhi with her husband in 1989, like many others, searching for work and a better future. They worked hard together to support their family, taking up whatever small jobs they could find. Life was never easy, but they kept going.
Everything changed in 2006, when their slum on the riverbed was demolished to make way for a flyover ahead of the Commonwealth Games. Overnight, families lost their homes, their work, and any sense of security. Shakeela’s family was left with nothing. Years of effort disappeared in a single moment.
When Asha and Dr Kiran supported families in securing land in Sawda, it gave her a chance to begin again. She started thinking about how to rebuild her livelihood. Selling fish was something her family had always done. It was a skill she trusted. But without savings or access to money, even this small step felt out of reach.
This is where Asha’s Financial Inclusion Programme made all the difference.
During a community interaction, the Asha team understood her situation and guided her towards the programme. For the first time, Shakeela entered the formal banking system. With Asha’s support, she opened her first bank account. It was a small step on paper, but a big shift in her life.
In 2008, with continued guidance, she applied for a bank loan of ₹45,000 (approximately $540 USD / £425 GBP). Due to incomplete documentation, she was initially given only ₹5,000 (approximately $60 USD / £47 GBP), with a clear condition. If she repaid it on time, she could access the full amount.
Shakeela held on to this opportunity. She used the money carefully, stayed disciplined, and repaid the loan on time. True to their word, the bank then approved the full ₹45,000.
With this support, she set up a small fish stall on the roadside. Her husband joined her, and together they began rebuilding their income. What started as a modest effort slowly became a stable livelihood.
That one step, access to a bank account and a loan, changed the direction of her life. Her income improved. There was food at home every day. Her children could study without interruption. Today, she has educated her three children, two daughters and one son. She has also built her own house, something she once thought she would never achieve.
This is the impact of Asha’s Financial Inclusion Programme. It opens doors that were once closed, giving families the ability to earn, save, invest, and move forward with confidence.
