Neerja Micro Credit Foundation

Varanasi is a crowded place, and our office in Kajipura Khurd is no different. We are located at C 14/142 G 9-2, right in the thick of things near Soniya and Chhitupur. It’s a bit of a maze getting here if you aren’t used to the narrow streets, but once you find us, it’s a busy little hub. We handle microcredit, which basically means we spend our time talking to local folks who need a bit of financial help for their small shops or home work. There’s always someone sitting at the front desk waiting to ask about a loan or make a small payment. The air is always full of the sounds of the city outside, bikes honking and people shouting, but inside we just keep our heads down and work on the ledgers. We have a few computers that are always humming, and the walls are lined with files from years of helping people in this part of Varanasi. It’s a very local operation. We know the shopkeepers nearby and we know the families who live down the street. It’s not a big corporate bank; it’s just a foundation where people can come and talk about money without feeling intimidated. We’ve been in this spot for a while now, and the neighbors are used to seeing us coming and going at all hours. It’s honest work, and we do it right here in the heart of the community.