Title: Network linkages and money management: an anthropological purview of the Beesi network amongst the urban poor Muslims in old city area of Lucknow, India

Authors: Syed Aiman Raza

Addresses: Department of Anthropology, Shia PG College, Lucknow-226003, India

Abstract: The present study is an ethnographic account of the Shia population attached to Zardozi (embroidery) in Lucknow, who are reeling under intense poverty and suffering as a result of pittance. This study contributes to the linking of micro levels of analysis of money management through informal financial network of Rotating Services and Credit Association (ROSCA), popularly known as Beesi, among the poor skilled Zardozi (embroidery) workers in Lucknow. The research facilitates verbatim accounts of embroidery workers about what they want, what they expect of themselves and how they make their choices that they can make. The study is open to a wide spectrum of readers belonging to developmental studies, economics and microfinance who are interested in understanding real life situations confronted by the poor in third world countries.

Keywords: urban poverty; money management; financial inclusion; India; network linkages; anthropology; urban poor; Muslims; Lucknow; ethnography; Shias; informal financial networks; embroidery workers; microfinance; developing countries.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2015.069705

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2015 Vol.14 No.4, pp.446 - 464

Received: 05 Aug 2014
Accepted: 04 Dec 2014
Published online: 29 May 2015 *

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