Srinagar: From designers to homestay owners, more than six lakh rural women of Jammu and Kashmir are currently running their individual businesses in the union territory.
Through Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihood Mission (UMEED) which was launched in the year 2011, scores of the women set up their individual units after getting financial support under the mission.
Director JKRLM Indu Kanwal Chib said that over six lakh rural women have availed membership under the mission, who run various individual business to promote women entrepreneurship in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Right now we have 6.36 lakh women who have the membership under the mission. At least 79000 Self Help Groups are functioning in Jammu and Kashmir, which guide and assist our women in becoming financially independent. Out of the 6.36 lakh women, at least 50,000 are millionaires,” she said.
Chib said that they have targeted to add another three lakh women this financial year. “We are expecting a jump of three lakh women by the end of the current financial year. By March 2024, we will have a total of 950,000 women with membership under UMEED and for that a robust campaigning is under way,” she said.
The mission director said they are going to launch UMEED courier and Taxi services in Jammu and Kashmir to create more employment for women.
“We already have our outlets at Jammu and Srinagar airport, which are solely run by our women. Now, we are expanding our services into e-commerce. We are sooner going to launch UMEED taxi services in Jammu and Kashmir, in which the entire process will be run by our women. A courier service will also come up under UMEED this year,” she said.
Chib said they are also enhancing market linkage facilities to the units run by the women under the scheme.
“Market is not a challenge for us since we have our shops in every district, haat and airports. We have also got associated with e-commerce giant Meesho and hospitality service provide OYO recently. Meesho will sell the products made by our women and OYO will promote the homestays. A SARAS mela is also being held from March 15-25 in Srinagar, where the products made by our entreprenuers will be showcased,” she said.
To ensure 100 per cent saturation, Chib said they are planning a robust awareness campaign in Jammu and Kashmir this year.
“Apart from our door-to- door campaign, we are also taking support of print and broadcast media this year. A robust campaign will be also launched on social media to aware women about benefits under UMEED scheme,” she said.
