El proyecto

The agrarian communities of Alipurduar, North Bengal live amongst the luscious fields by the banks of Kaljani river. Being cut off from major cities and towns, most of the residents practise farming. These communities- most of the families residing here are engaged in paddy cultivation, which gives them the highest revenue. In addition to paddy, they also grow potato, bottle gourd, mustard seeds, broad beans, maize etc. The nearest markets are in faraway towns; the only way to get to these towns is by buses with very low frequency.

The district lacks basic facilities such as well-equipped hospitals and schools. Many a times, patients are required to travel 50kms to Siliguri to visit a good hospital. Traveling within the district is via ‘toto rickshaws’ run by the locals. Other than that, they have no means of commute. The average monthly income of such families is less than $120 as a result of which the land they work on is usually on lease. Due to their hand-to-mouth situation, the families try to cut down on labour costs by ensuring that all family members work on the field. Children, after returning from school, help out their parents with farming. With such conditions, availing loans to better their prospects has been difficult. However, BJS has been supporting women and their families in this area by providing them with agricultural loans.

Through this project, these rural communities of Alipurduar will benefit socio-economically as the women of the households would be the recipients of funds, it will go a long way towards empowering them and helping them find their own financial footing. Your loan will help these women purchase seeds, fertilizers, irrigation pumps and also invest in labour- this will help them expand their agriculture operations and enhance their earnings!