Ujjivan SFB Driving Livelihood Opportunities in Kerala

KOCHI:
Ujjivan Small Finance Bank is helping women entrepreneurs start and expand income-generating activities, through access to affordable credit and financial support in Kerala. Veena is one such borrower who strengthened her clam meat business and later diversified into a small cloth trading venture with the bank’s support.

Veena, a 40-year-old resident of a coastal fishing community in Kerala, was living with her husband and two dependents. Her family was engaged in the seasonal clam business like many other in the region. To expand her business, she reached out to Ujjivan Small Finance Bank for a microfinance loan of ₹40,000. The loan helped her strengthen the business and increase production. With limited access to formal banking services, the family previously relied on local moneylenders for credit, which had led to financial stress and vulnerability.

Now with the improved income, she was able to build a good repayment track record. Veena later opted for a second loan cycle and started a small cloth trading business, purchasing ready-made garments in bulk and selling them to customers in her community on instalment basis. Since the clam business was seasonal, this diversification allowed her to earn all year round. The additional consistent income has improved her family’s financial stability and enabled her to support her children’s education.

“Access to the loan helped us expand our traditional business. Having multiple livelihood activities has enabled us to create more stable sources of income. The support from Ujjivan Small Finance Bank has given me the confidence to build a better future for our family,” said Veena.

Today, Veena’s journey reflects how responsible microfinance can help women entrepreneurs strengthen livelihoods and build financial resilience. Across Kerala, the sector continues to support millions through access to formal credit. The state has the second-highest average loan outstanding after Tamil Nadu at ₹30,584, with 18.49 lakh borrowers and a gross loan portfolio of about ₹9,974 crore, underscoring its role in advancing financial inclusion and local economic development.