‘Kashf Foundation working for women empowerment’
ISLAMABAD: Kashf Foundation is working for empowerment of women by providing them small loans to bring them in mainstream and involve them in socio-economic uplift of the society. Some people have started negative propaganda against this micro-finance organisation to derail the women empowerment process, said Adnan Ahmed, Regional Manager, Kashf Foundation.
While addressing a press conference at National Press Club on Thursday. He was flanked by other foundation officials including Asma Shereen, Irtiza Hussain and Nasir Mumtaz. He said that at present 40 percent of the total capital of the foundation is at risk and by reading negative propaganda; women loaners are showing reluctance to pay the installments. “We learnt that some people are going to these women and demanding money for writing off their loans, but later on they have to pay the loan,” he said.
These elements are causing hardships for poor people, as in many cases court has asked the loaners to pay their installments to Kashf, he added. He informed media that during last 12 years, Kashf has provided small loans worth Rs 14 billion to more than 850,000 families in Punjab province.
“We have started the work in micro-finance with sole aim to improve living standard of poor people by providing them small loans for small businesses,” he added. He rejected the impression of misbehavior of recovery staff of the foundation saying that all staff members of the foundation are well educated, trained and under oath to respect the clients. “We are not ready to make any compromise on self respect of our clients”, he added.
To a question, he said that Kashf is not a profit-earning organisation and it is only charging service charges from clients, who are being given small loans on easy installments. He said that under ‘Rozgar’ Loan, Rs 6,000 to Rs 15,000 are being provided to women, recoverable in 21 installments, which is being increased up to Rs 40,000.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:2/13/2009
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