Mothers and their children gather around to talk with us in the village of Deep Colony several hours outside of Siliguri in northern West Bengal, India. We were there to learn about the activities of the women's self-help and micro-credit group in the village. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Kathalguri Tea Estate closed in July 2002, but 80% of its workers and their families (around 8,500 people) still live there trying to eek out a living doing manual work, when available, in the area or across the border in Bhutan. The hospital closed years ago, but doctors visit a couple times a week and volunteers help to distribute medicine. The school only has 2-3 teachers for over 500 students. Life is anything but easy here. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
One of the leaders of a self-help group in the village of Gairkata shows us her snack and telephone shop. She built and set up the shops with around $350 in loans. With the income she earns, she's been able to send her son to school and contribute to the family. Now she's planning to send her son for higher education - he wants to be a doctor. Read: Microfinance Diaries: Seeing is Believing in West Bengal, India © www.uncorneredmarket.com
