Geetaben and Bipinbhai Nayak (Bajaniya) were able to get auto rickshaw with the help of VSSM

Geetaben Nayak (Bajanya) with Mittal Patel

Geetaben and Bipinbhai Nayak (Bajaniya) lives in Vatva village, near Ahmedabad. They both worked as labourers. Bipinbhai knew how to drive an auto rickshaw and so he thought of buying a second hand auto Rickshaw, but the cost of the rickshaw was 50, 000/- and he didn’t have that kind of money.

So Bipinbhai borrowed 50,000/- from a private money lender and at the end of the year, he had to pay 70,000/- including the interest to the money lender. And the money was given on a condition that since Bipinbhai failed to pay back 70,000 /- then them money lender will take away his rickshaw.

Bipinbhai started a shuttle from Vatva to Ramol and Nikol. But, it didn’t not bring him enough money. The repaying of money was causing stain and he could hardly meet ends with the hefty interest that he had to pay. If he drove an auto Rickshaw in the city, he could earn much more, but he didn’t have a driving license and so he didn’t take the risk of driving in the city without a driving licence.

Geetaben came in contact with Madhuben (VSSM worker) and she requested Madhuben to give her husband interest free loan of Rs40, 000/- so that they can pay back the private money lender and secure the rickshaw and not have to worry about a hefty interest they were continuously met with every month. She put her gold ornaments on mortgage and could get 30,000/- from it and they repaid the 70,000/- to the private money lender and were able to secure their Rickshaw.

Once they were relieved of the interest, they started repaying back the interest free loan that they borrowed from VSSM. And they have repaired the full amount. They were also able to get the gold ornaments back.

Bipinbhai Nayak (Bajaniya) with his Auto Rickshaw

Now, Bipinbhai earns Rs 200-250 per day and sometimes, even up to Rs 500.Although the issue of not being able to get a driving licence because he of his inability to ready and give the Theory exam for availing driving licence remains. We have been writing to the government with regard to this matter and have also been lobbying for the same. Hoping to find a way out for this soon.. 






Loan ID no. : 916