IXL Social Enterprise Case Studies Water March 2011 | Page 6

Getting Safe Water and Sanitation to the Bottom of the Pyramid through Bold and Game-Changing Innovations

Loan sharks who prey on those who want to pay
for clean water and sanitation.
The stress caused by loan sharks almost drove Mrs.
Indirani to suicide. But thankfully at the last minute
her husband was able to stop her from lighting a
match to the kerosene she had poured over her head.
Back in 1997, without his wife knowing, Mr. Indirani
borrowed 17,000 rupees (USD375) from a private
money lender who charged an initial 48 percent
interest rate and demanded his house as collateral.
As each year passed by, the interest rate rapid