Srinagar- Dilshada Bano, 28, from North Kashmir’s Bandipora district had never thought that one day she would stand on her own feet and will support her husband in running the house.
She learned tailoring at a local government-run center and started work to earn some extra money for her family. However, the low dividends forced her to quit this job. So she decided to do “something big” that would cover all her expenses.
In 2019, Bano started a dairy farm after her friend informed her about the government’s self-help groups (SHGs) scheme.
“My husband accompanied me to the DC office and we completed all the formalities. It was very smooth and the officials were very helpful,” Bano told Kashmir Observer.
She received assistance from the Jammu & Kashmir State Rural Livelihood Mission (JKSRLM) in the form of a revolving fund, community investment fund and bank linkage. Bano got Rs 50,000 and bought her first cow.
“I came to know about the government’s Umeed Scheme that helps women to set-up their own ventures. That’s how it all started,” she said.
Initially, she said, she just started her new venture with just one cow. As the days passed, her hard work took the shape of a milk processing unit producing dairy products like yogurt, milk and cheese.
Bano, a mother of three, not only sold her products in Bandipora, but parts of Sopore and Baramulla in the neighbouring district. In order to boost the business of the local potters, she also chose clay pots instead of plastic packing for her diary products.
“My friends and neighbors now come to my unit and try to learn the business,” says Bano with a smiling face.
The new venture has also helped Bano to raise some assets. With around Rs 10 lakh financial help extended to her, Bano constructed three shops in her native village and also expanded her business.
She has priced 1 kg milk at Rs 45 and yogurt at Rs 50 to Rs 60 as per the size of the pot.
Bano is not the only woman who has scripted her success story after receiving help from the government. There are hundreds and thousands like her who have been benefited by the Union Territory administration launched schemes like Self-Help Group (SHG) scheme, ‘Umeed’ scheme, SAATH, Tejaswini livelihood scheme etc.
Traditionally the womenfolk did not own or operate businesses on their own. But that is all now changing. Young women of Kashmir are breaking all the barriers and treading the path of business which otherwise would be a man’s domain only.
A number of women in rural areas of Kashmir with the help of the government have started their own business ventures while pushing-up the patriarchy and standing up on their own feet.
The trend of becoming financially independent women is picking-up in Kashmir with many women having become successful woman entrepreneurs.
The woman doing business was seen as a taboo in a place like Kashmir. However, the new generation of young female entrepreneurs are overcoming all the challenges.
In February 2023, over a dozen women in Shahgund village of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district manufactured eco-friendly reusable and affordable sanitary pads thus enhancing their incomes, ensuring better health and hygiene for women in the district.
The unit was started with the support of the JKRLM UMEED
On June 29, 2021, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said the priority of the government is to reduce the gap between women and men entrepreneurs, in a systematic manner.
JKSRLM mandate is to reach out to 66% of rural population across the erstwhile 125 blocks. Link them to sustainable livelihood opportunities and nurture them till they come out of poverty and enjoy a decent quality of life.
Mission Director JKRLM, Indu Kanwal Chib told Kashmir Observer there are around six lakh women in J&K who have joined the scheme and around over Rs 100 crore have been provided to them to launch their starts-ups At present, there are more than 84,000 Self Help Groups in J&K.
“Women are very excited to be beneficiaries of our schemes. Everyday more and more girls are joining from the rural areas,” Chib said.
She, however, said that the department is facing a challenge in informing more and more people about the schemes.
“…and to address this issue, we have started a call center and people can call us on 18002020383 if they are willing to be a beneficiary of our schemes. We will send our team to their home and will help them,” Chib said.
She added that JKRLM has now signed a deal with e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Meesho, Flipkart etc.
Mahmoona Akthar, an entrepreneur and beneficiary of UMEED scheme of JKRLM from Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district now takes care of her family of six, including four children and her parents.
In 2020, Akthar lost her husband, a driver by profession in an accident, and there was no one to run her house.
“So I decided to stand on my own feet and do something for my family,” Akthar told Kashmir Observer.
Akthar established a small unit of mushroom with the financial assistance of JKRLM. She says she is earning a good amount of money every month.
Akthar not only harvests four quintals of mushrooms every year, but also provides jobs to other women in her village.
Mission Director JKRLM urged women to reach out to her team and take advantage of different schemes of the government which have become a hope of financial freedom among rural women.
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