Ten Indicators to Assess Poverty level
Every year Grameen Bank (GB) staff evaluate their work and check whether the socio-economic situation of GB members is improving. GB evaluates poverty level of the borrowers using ten indicators.
A member is considered to have moved out of poverty if her family fulfills the following criteria:
The family lives in a house worth at least Tk. 25,000 (twenty five thousand) or a house with a tin roof, and each member of the family is able to sleep on bed instead of on the floor.
Family members drink pure water of tube-wells, boiled water or water purified by using alum, arsenic-free, purifying tablets or pitcher filters.
All children in the family over six years of age are all going to school or finished primary school.
Minimum weekly loan installment of the borrower is Tk. 200 or more.
Family uses sanitary latrine.
- Family members have adequate clothing for every day use, warm clothing for winter, such as shawls, sweaters, blankets, etc, and mosquito-nets to protect themselves from mosquitoes.
Family has sources of additional income, such as vegetable garden, fruit-bearing trees, etc, so that they are able to fall back on these sources of income when they need additional money.
The borrower maintains an average annual balance of Tk. 5,000 in her savings accounts.
Family experiences no difficulty in having three square meals a day throughout the year, i. e. no member of the family goes hungry any time of the year.
Family can take care of the health. If any member of the family falls ill, family can afford to take all necessary steps to seek adequate healthcare
