The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sabiha Mahmud Sumi

Microfinance institutes are known for the giving out loans to the poor in a country like Bangladesh. That being said, can we also consider microfinance as an environment friendly institute? Since our environment plays a major part in each one of our lives, it is up to big organizations such as ASA or BRAC or Grameen Bank to show us how to really be eco-friendly. Almost half the population of third world countries such as Bangladesh consists of under literate people. These people have to worry about their sources of income so much that they don't have the time to think about the environment around them. Although, growing up in such a society plays a major role in the way they think. Therefore, MFIs who deal with these types of people are responsible let their clients become aware of how to care for the place they live in, for the futures of their children.

As we all know, ASA is renowned for its effective and sustainable ways to run a microfinance institute. Now linking such a program to sustaining the environment is a hard one.

Although, ASA hasn't started awareness among the people for being eco-friendly, it does encourage their fellow clients to do what they can with the limited amount of money they have. ASA uses its main focus of microfinance to inspire people to help sustain our environment in as many ways possible.

There are some such cases around the country which could be highlighted under the circumstances of not being able to afford their food.

Then slowly with the help of ASA was able to support their family. And now with their innovative ideas have created their own methods of bio gas, and solar paneling and also different sources of lighting fire for their clay stoves. This not only is being eco-friendly but it is also cost-effective.

Mr. Idris Ali Sheikh is one such example of a person who has used his sources of income to also be environmentally cautious. He runs a business of a farm with five cows. Cow farms are very popular in rural areas of Bangladesh because of the high price rates of milk. Mr. Sheikh also falls in the category of being successful. As for his career, he has continued to run his business for quite some time now, although this would be his first year to take a Tk.70,000 (Seventy thousand) loan from ASA. With this money he was able to start up a biogas producing structure so that he could reuse the cow dung to save his gas expenses. This being a common method that is used all around the village to become eco friendly as well as minimizing their expenses.

He has used the loan from ASA to build this and run other expenses for his farm.

This has helped him a lot since he is reusing waste to minimize gas expenses. He was successful in building a biogas plantation because of his reliable cow farm business. Also, he can use this gas to run electricity around the house therefore; he also can help the environment save electricity. The lights that are being lit with the help of the biogas plantation is helping minimize usage of electricity and also minimizing electric expenses. Therefore, we can suggest that this is one of the most profitable and eco-friendly ways to run business.

ASA helps motivate the people to be environmentally cautious, and biogas plantations being the most popular method of being environment friendly. With the contributions of Mr. Md. Shafiqual Haque Choudhury, ASA Founder President has created ways to inspire these people around the country to become environmentally cautious.

This message spread by ASA has helped its clients to build proper sanitation and to create safe drinking water facilities for their families.

This is the most major impact on a lot of the rural areas around Bangladesh since lack of proper sanitation and safe drinking water causes major problems around the country. As Bangladesh developed so did ASA, therefore, as the loans started to get bigger the awareness started to spread and people became aware of the environment through cost-effective methods. The biogas plantation became a highlight and this has now become another successful eco-friendly method of helping the society.

Also, solar panels are now becoming more and more popular with the coming years. Solar panels are one of the most efficient ways to provide electricity to the very poor in our communities.

With the help of the clients of ASA, one day ASA will not only provide motivation and inspiration but also funds that back up to provide their borrowers with eco-friendly items. Mr. Choudhury has not only established a financially supportive organization but also a centre of awareness and motivation towards eco-friendliness.