Until about ten years back Bishnumaya Ale and her husband Surya were surviving running a small general store and rice and vegetables grown on their 10 kathha (approximately 1302 sq m) in Gopiganj, Nawalparasi district in the south central Tarai of Nepal. The income from the shop and the land was enough for the two but as the family size began to grow with the birth of three daughters and one son, Bishnumaya began to worry about the future of her children. "I didn’t want my children especially my daughters to live in poverty like us," says the 34 year old who also raises a niece along with her four children.

Luckily for Bishnumaya, a teacher in the local school informed her of MEDEP and how it could help her. "I didn’t know anything about Dhaka weaving but had heard from friends that it was a profitable business," says Bishnumaya who immediately formed a group to approach MEDEP which gave a four month training to 17 women on operating a Dhaka weaving enterprise in 2000.

Bishnumaya initially began with two machines that cost her Rs 4000 each which she able to obtain as a loan from Grameen Bank with the help of MEDEP. She was soon able to repay the loan and expand her business. Today her Subid Dhaka Udyog not only produces Dhaka fabric clothes but also collects and sells to wholesalers. Both Bishnuamaya and her husband Surya are involved in the business and together they buy raw materials from Biratnagar, Kathmandu and India where she says it is cheaper even though it is Nepali product they buy.

Her monthly production regularly crosses the Rs 1 million mark allowing her to save upto Rs 40,000 net profit after all the costs are deducted. Since starting her enterprise Bishnumaya has never had to keep the factory empty as there is never a dearth of orders. During the peak season she employs upto 17 weavers on contract basis. Wholesalers contact her directly from exhibitions like the one organized recently by the Department of Cottage and Small Industries placing large orders, which is why Bishnumaya hardly has any free time. "Thanks to MEDEP my children's future is now secure. They can study and work as well" she said.