Marufa Bibi

Marufa Bibi, 25, from Dakshin Debipur, Basirhat, West Bengal, started her life like any other ordinary village girl. She got married at an early age. As there were no other means of income, Marufa Bibi assisted her husband in his small tailoring business to earn their livelihood.

She started her entrepreneurship journey in 2018 when she received her first microfinance loan of Rs. 30,000 from VFS Capital as a Joint Liability Group (JLG) member. Marufa Bibi bought a couple of sewing machines to give a new direction to her business. The credit has given her the confidence to grow her business further. Soon, as an eligible member, she received an individual loan of Rs. 50,000 from VFS Capital in January 2022.

Marufa has set up her own small tailoring unit in one portion of her home. Now she possesses five sewing machines and has employed four staff to support her business. She pays her employees weekly wages and bears other monthly recurring business expenses such as the cost of threads, electricity bill etc.

Marufa Bibi is an expert in interlock stitching, and she deals with women's garments such as skirts, tops, long dresses, frocks, and lehengas. Her workshop remains open from 7 in the morning till 10 at night. However, the festival times are the peak season for her business, when she earns the maximum profit.

Marufa Bibi has gained respect and recognition in her family and society. She is a role model in her locality and a proud mother of a 5-year-old son. Her husband's small tailoring business was a mere source of living. She transformed it into a profitable business with her diligence and the support of VFS capital. VFS has uplifted her life, and now she is elevating the lives of others by empowering them.