2. Poverty is defined as the state of one who lacks a usual or
socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions.
Poverty in Bangladesh is widespread, with up to 26% of its 150
million large population living below the national poverty line of
US $2 per day.
Worldwide, it is estimated 1.29 billion people were living in
absolute poverty as of the year 2008.
Poverty
3. Microfinance is a source of financial services for persons or
organisations lacking access to banking and financial
services.
In the Indian Subcontinent, microfinance entails the
following:
- Loan given without security
- Loans to persons who live below the poverty line
- This allows for easier access to capital for persons of
destitution, in order for them to utilize funds to better their
economic situation.
Microfinance
4. Muhammad Yunus was born in 28th June, 1940 in the
village of Bathua, in Hathazari, Chittagong. His biggest
influence was his mother, Sufia Khatun, who always helped
any poor that knocked on their door. This inspired him to
commit himself to eradication of poverty.
Professor Yunus studied economics in the Vanderbilt
University, USA and received his Ph.D. in Economics in
1970. He started the Grameen Bank Project in 1976. It was
transformed into a formal bank in 1983. The Grameen Bank
offers small loans for self employment for the rural poor,
especially poor women.
Muhammad Yunus
5. Grameen bank provides credit to the poorest of
the poor in rural Bangladesh.
This allows the poor to have an entrepreneurial
spirit, which coupled with the credit provided to
them by grameen bank, gives them the
opportunity to break out of their cycle of poverty
and set up profit making organisations
According to a recent internal survey (2008)
conducted by grameen bank, 65% of Grameen
borrowers have crossed the poverty line.
Grameen bank and
impacts of this venture
