Women in Jammu and Kashmir are increasingly venturing into entrepreneurship to achieve self-reliance and financial independence. Self-Help Groups (SHGs) led by women have played a crucial role in empowering them through various self-sustaining ventures. Currently, about 1,500 women are engaged in such initiatives, including crafting cow dung cakes, clothes for deities, handbags, and other handmade products.
In Jammu’s Samba district, efforts are being made to revive traditional art forms. The ‘Samba Sakhi’ project has enabled women to establish businesses centered around Kalika painting, showcasing the region’s cultural heritage. Entrepreneur Meenakshi Gupta, a driving force behind this endeavor, highlighted the increasing participation of young women in these initiatives through SHGs.
Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Vocal for Local” campaign, women associated with these SHGs are promoting local products and traditions. This movement not only fosters self-reliance among women but also garners appreciation from customers who value the preservation of local culture. With around 1,500 women actively involved in these self-help groups, there is a growing sense of pride in their work and a call for more women to join in promoting local products.
