Micro-finance allows the poor people to protect, diversify, and increase their income to get out from poverty and hunger. Starting by small savings habit, members can have access to a small amount credit facility within a short period of time that increases over time depending on repayment capacity of the borrower. Moreover, it allows members to help safeguard against vulnerability by having insurance schemes as well.

Twelve years ago DISA started its micro-credit program at Borkoit union of Chandina Upazila of Comilla district where poverty was widely prevailed in various dimensions. DISA extended its hands with its limited capacity to eradicate poverty in that area. In last twelve years DISA has been tried very hard to find a strong donor link and to improve its capital strength.  Notably, DISA has advanced much in that direction and towards its goal by this time.  A total of eight (8) branches are now working for the micro-credit program.

Funding Micro-credit and Finding Donor’s Links

 DISA faced a serious fund constraint at its inception, as there was no donor link at that time.  At the beginning, it had only one micro-credit group with twenty members, where DISA extended credit to only ten members only.  However, after twelve years of restless journey, number of micro-credit groups has extended to more than 270 groups with a member of around 6316. DISA’s successes stories include generous support from PKSF and establishing smooth relationship with with BRAC, CODEC, and MAC-Fund etc. It is expected that the micro-credit  program of DISA will be increased substantially in the coming years.

1. Rural Micro Credit- RMC

For the purpose of reducing poverty, increasing awareness on different social issues among the rural community and bring them into income generating process, make them able to contribute in the socio-economic development system, DISA is organizing them systematically and maintaining natural equilibrium to achieve a sustainable development through various efforts.  Basic criteria of the target group of RMC;

1. The local targeted poor people and marginal farmers whose age limit around 18-45 years;
2. The vulnerable, oppressed & helpless poor people who are deprived from the fundamental rights, education & proper health care support;
3. Whose land asset under 50 decimal.

Micro Enterprise-ME

Main purpose of micro enterprise is to enhance especially financial capacity of individuals or group of clients at the community along with other necessary supports to start initiative for income generating or gear up existing income generating work. For which clients can enjoy happy life with sustainable income generating process. Usually the clients take the following income generating initiatives:

1. Small Business;
2. Dairy, Poultry & Fish cultivation;
3. Handloom, Pottery, Manufacturing and Cottage industry;
4. Bag making and Food Processing;

Seasonal Loan-SL

In addition to rural micro credit fund, the group members receive seasonal loan for a certain time of the year. There are some standard to be followed the members who wish to have seasonal loan. The main objective of the program is to provide need based monetary support to the group members for increasing their benefit through agro based income generating sector.  For effective utilization of the money, DISA provide need based training on agricultural areas to the stakeholder/members. Agro based areas below to utilize seasonal loan:

1. Vegetable gardening,  Farming (Potato, Tomato, Guard etc);
2. Beef fattening and Goat rearing;

This the program by which the extremely poor people are getting supports from the organization. For which they can become a member of mainstream of the society and they can be part of the socio-economic development which will help them to be less vulnerable people in the society.
The main target group of the program is socially and economically distressed, rootless and helpless (both in rural & urban) who are actually living under poverty line.
The main objective of the program is to increase awareness for mental and social development of the vulnerable people and make them able to live in the society with honor by organizing & motivating them, involve them in development work, make them self dependent, creating savings tendency and finally establish their rights in the society.
Livelihood Restoration Program-LRP:

This program is run for helping in combating and mitigating the unwanted and emergency crisis situation (such as natural or man main disaster) of the group members and fulfilling the need of the affected people to overcome their crisis and motivating them to step forward to rebuild their future to enjoy their life in the society.

Component No. of Lone Amount of loan distribution Savings done by the members Rural Micro Credit-RMC 4521 74409000 7792339 Micro Enterprise-ME 297 18915000 2348989 Ultra Poor-UP 405 2766000 566972 Seasonal Loan-SL 257 9680000 -- Livelihood Restoration Program-LRP 431 840300 --

Conclusion DISA’s credit program has progressed much in the last years.  The present level of eight (8)  branches are fully operational with efficiency and capacity. Presently, with the partnership of PKSF, the credit program has got added speed. At the same time, standard accounting practices and management style as suggested by are introduced.  It is expected that the credit program will grow with a high rate in the coming years.