Empowerment of women can be possible when we break the traditional practices of society and make our customs gender neutral. One such custom is the widely-accepted norm of the girl being given away to another family on marriage. It has always disturbed me a lot.

But we also hear that the days are changing, and fast. When my executive told me about Debjani Chakraborty, it came as evidence.

Married to a man with a car rental service, Debjani got into the wholesale snacks business to add to the family income. With a microfinance loan from Village Financial Services, she bought chips and confectionery items in bulk and distributed them to the local kirana stores of Kotulpur Keorapara village in West Bengal’s Bankura district. The business has been steady, though it did take a hit because of the market turmoil caused by the COVID19 pandemic.

She told us how she is balancing her life between being a woman entrepreneur and a homemaker. Her husband, driving his own Scorpio, which he has rented to the block office, has erratic work hours. Debjani looks after his well-being. Her husband also helps her when the work pressure peaks. This symbiotic support is what keeps the marriage strong.

Debjani has not neglected her role as a mother of two daughters. She had to drop out of school in Class 8 so she ensures that her daughters don’t miss school. Despite her work pressure, Debjani tracks their progress every day.

So far, Debjani’s tale is like many others among our borrowers. So what makes her stand out?

As we were discussing her business and money issues, Debjani seemed tense. It is only at the end that we learnt that Debjani has ensured that her ailing father moves to her house and stays with her till he gets better. She has already ensured medical care for her 80-year-old father. She has put the growth plan of her business on hold.

Debjani insists that her father will continue to stay with her even after he gets well. As a daughter, she feels it is her duty to take care of her parent. She breaks the social norm that entrusts this duty to the son of the family since daughters are treated as members of another.

Empowered women such as Debjani validate the fact that gender does not have much to do with fulfilling the responsibilities of a child, parent or spouse while driving a successful business. What else can we expect from our women customers?