Cash Nudge for Divya Devi

Cash Nudge for Divya Devi

It wasn't always easy for Divya Devi and Kamod to provide for their family. Thanks to Project Utthan—Oxfam India-HDFC project—she opened a tailoring shop, which she now runs successfully to provide for her family.

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Twenty-nine year old Divya is married to Kamod Rai; both come from low-income families in the Dostpur Khairvi Village of Bathnaha Block, in Bihar's Sitamarhi District. Kamod worked as a daily wage labourer and while they owned cattle as well, they were unable to make ends meet. 

Kamod and Divya are parents to three young girls. Two of them are old enough to start primary school, and the third is only two years old. As part of a joint family—with the husband's brothers—they collectively own two huts, one for themselves and one for their cattle. Divya had learned to sew clothes as a little girl but did not pursue it after marriage due to lack of funds and financial support from the family. 

Project Utthan has a conditional cash transfer (CCT) component and the recipients are finally decided after several discussions within the Village Development Committee. So at Dostpur Khairvi too, after due diligence Divya Devi was selected. She was excited with this cash support since she always wanted to set up a ladies tailoring shop! 

Since her family was going through financial constraints, the cash support was much needed. She opened "Ruvi Ladies Tailor" shop. Through Project Utthan, she received Rs 10,800 which is 90% of the financial support she needed; she put in Rs 2000 of her own money to purchase a second-hand sewing machine, cloth, and other supplies for her shop. She also saved up some money to buy the next round of materials.

Divya Devi is now the proud owner of a ladies' tailor shop. She works hard to provide for her family and now earns between Rs 100 and Rs 200 per day, which sees a substantial increase during the festive season. She states, "After 12 years, I am finally able to put my sewing skills to use, and I am overjoyed with my own earnings. I can provide for my family."

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Oxfam India-HDFC Bank’s HRDP initiative ‘Project Utthan’ contributes towards the socio-economic empowerment of people from marginalised communities by aiding them with sustainable livelihood options and improving access to essential services (especially women) across 15 villages in two blocks in Sitamarhi.

Rahul is a Technical Expert (Institution Building and Market Linkage) with Oxfam India and is based in Sitamarhi, Bihar

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