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Financial Landscape
Two MEs from Mawlamying were found availing loans from these two micro-finance institutions. Angelina (Fish net repairer, Mawlamyine) took a loan of MMK 100,000 ($1000) from
Save the Children to buy meals for her family during non-seasonal days when she could not
work. She had to pay the first installment of MMK 9,200 ($9.2) and after she paid it, she was
told about the second installment. Naing (journal seller, Mawlamying) came to know about
World Vision from the head of 100 households and borrowed MMK 100,000 ($ 1000) for the
treatment of his elder brother. His monthly instalment to repay the same was MMK 10,800 ($
10.8).
While these two MFIs were only found active in Mawlamyine, there was another MFI (Mingalar Myanmar Association) found active in Yangon. After his friend’s advice, Nanda (Wood
sculptor, Yangon) took a loan of MMK 150,000 ($150) from them one and at an interest of
20% to pay for the house rent which he returned in a year. In order to get this loan he had to
pay a collateral of MMK 2000 ($2) per week till five weeks, submit a copy of his family registration and national ID-card. After six months, he took a loan of MMK 300,000 ($300) again
and was paying it on instalments.
4.4 MONEY TRANSFER
Some of the MEs from all 5 locations had either used banks to transfer and receive money or
accompanied their friends to transfer money. Htut (carpenter, Mandalay) went to the Central
bank regularly to withdraw money. He worked for other contractors from Yangon at times
and they sent him money through the Central bank. To withdraw money he had to show his
national ID-card. When he was working in Yangon, he used central bank to transfer money to
his family.
Ohnmar (painter, Mawlamying) had used KBZ bank to withdraw money that his relatives sent
from Yangon. Kyi (slipper maker, Mandalay) used to transfer money to his suppliers in Yangon
through banks but since it took long he started sending through an express car. He had to tell
the name and national ID-card number of the person to whom he was sending money and it
was transferred within an hour. For each transaction he paid MMK 500 ($0.5) at the express
car station.
Nanda took loan from Mingalar Myanmar Association an MFI