| Summary: | This report is based on the findings of the case tracking study of 35 BRAC borrowers from Madab
RDP over a period of one year Tracking began in July, 1996, and in all cases more than three
months had elapsed before tracking began. The issues examined in this study are: background of
the borrowers, use of loan, participation of the women in the use of loan, economic return on
investment, borrowing from other sources, mobility of the borrowers or the decision making by
the borrowers in their households related to the loan from BRAC. Findings revealed varied
importance of credit for the BRAC borrowers. BRAC loans were a substantial support for the poor
in terms of emergency funds and capital for multifarious investment. Despite access to loans from
BRAC, they still borrowed from the moneylenders under compelling situations. It further found
that the dominance of patriarchy was difficult to break because of its deep root in the society.
Though observance of purdah varied, it was never absent and as such restricted the movement of
women to a great extent. Patriarchal division of labour ensured that women remain confined
mostly within household. The study concluded that these deep-rooted cultural factors were
responsible for the perpetuation of women's subordination and micro-credit could not change it
significantly.
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