Social Impact Assessment of Microfinance Programmes - weman

mainly because they don’t have to worry about the next day’s income. One
participant said, ‘many of our ambitions were fulfilled and the frustration level with
the government systems and injustices has reduced considerably because we know we
can do a lot better with little support.’ Women clients have also identified family
unity and harmony as a direct outcome of the OCT programme.
• Orangi already has one of the highest literacy rates in Karachi. Therefore, the clients
were quite conscious of the importance of education, health, and political rights.
However, responses of clients revealed that hopes of improvement are not pinned
with the institutions or dominant system per se. Clients mentioned that they are
sending their children to English medium schools only for their own development and
enlightenment. They are very sure that they will not secure good jobs because of the
poor system and public services. It is for this reason children are engaged in family
enterprise and businesses. The culture of resilience, self-reliance and creative
enterprise emanates from the hardships faced during migration.
Non-Borrower’s Perspective
• A very strong reason for not taking any loans is the parallel, indigenous, system of
savings in Orangi town known as bisi or the committee system. Non-clients
mentioned that through committees they save up to triple the amount which is given
out by OCT. Interest free availability of money is another reason why committee
system is preferred over taking loans.
17