Social Impact Assessment of Microfinance Programmes - weman

3.4 Focus Group Discussions
This section discusses the client feedback of microfinance institutions and the various
coping mechanisms at the local level in terms of financial transactions. Information has
been gathered primarily through Focus Group Discussions with beneficiary groups in
randomly selected programme localities. Some additional information has also been
gathered through discussions with the respective programmes’ field and programme staff.
Three focus group discussions were held in the Asasah localities, one each in urban areas
of Lahore, Kasur and Raiwind. Each group had 6 to 8 participants.
Client Profile
Most of Asasah clients had small enterprises working within their homes. Out of 22
participants in the three focus groups, five women were housewives while the remaining
were doing some kind of business. The housewives had taken loans for contribution in
their husband’s businesses. Borrowers were 1 st to 3 rd cycle categories, but there were very
few variations in their responses in context of their credit cycles.
A significant impact was reported in the income levels after receiving the credit, and
women narrated astute business sense in expansion of their enterprise after the Asasah
loan and its utilization in scaling up their business.
Prior to Asasah interventions, the women of these localities had no relationship with any
other financial or microcredit institution. Women felt that the banking systems were too
tedious and they lacked the time and the knowledge in dealing with such procedures.
‘The Bank procedures are too lengthy and tedious. Firstly, we don’t know much about
how a bank credit system works. Then their procedures and screening process is very
lengthy and the recovery process is also very long resulting in additional debt on the
client. So Asasah suits our needs as not only is it accessible, but also because the loan
can be repaid within a year.’
(FGD Participant, Chowk Yaadgar, Lahore)
Savings are an integral part of the Asasah programme and women can save whatever
amount possible for them with their group leader. Other than that, women in all the areas
saved petty amounts for urgent needs and also depended on Asasah savings for
emergency purposes or even planned requirements. Informal borrowing from relatives
and friends was also a common trend in case of an emergency.
In Kasur and Lahore, many participants said that they participated in the committee
system in addition to Asasah savings. As a result many had bought televisions,
refrigerators, DVD players, etc, from their savings.
‘I plan to buy a motorbike for my son next eid from my savings.’
(Participant, Shahbaz road, Kasur)
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