Bandipora Woman Transforms Her Rooftop into a Thriving Garden
Suhail Khan
Bandipora, Dec 21 : With Jammu and Kashmir now recording the second-highest unemployment rate in India at 46.3%, according to recent statistics, the youth in the region are displaying resilience and an entrepreneurial spirit in the face of adversity.
Relying solely on government jobs is no longer a challenge for the youth in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, as they have embraced entrepreneurship as an alternative.
In the past five years, especially after the abrogation of Article 370, the younger generation has lost hope in securing government appointments due to the implementation of Indian laws in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. However, these young individuals have discovered entrepreneurship as a permanent alternative for their survival and success.
In yet another success story, a daughter of the soil from Bandipora in North Kashmir has successfully taken innovative steps to earn a living.
A 35-year-old Asiya Akbar, from the small village of Nasoo in Bandipora, has cultivated vegetables and mushrooms on the rooftop of her house.
In an exclusive interview with Kashmir Despatch, Asiya mentioned that, considering the unemployment crisis and observing her family’s struggles, she decided to take this innovative step. She began growing vegetables and also tried her hand at mushroom cultivation on her rooftop. To her delight, it went very well, and within just a month, she started seeing fruitful results.
She stated that this innovative approach has greatly helped her manage her family’s expenses, as she currently earns around 40,000 rupees monthly from the crops cultivated on her rooftop.
Asiya shared that she started mushroom cultivation four years ago, exploring its potential alongside vegetable farming. “Alhamdulillah, today I am very happy as I am able to earn a good income,” she said.
She emphasized that, with fewer government job opportunities available for educated women, home farming could serve as a sustainable alternative. “Growing vegetables and mushrooms at home allows women to support themselves,” she added.
Asiya also expressed her gratitude to the Agriculture Department for their support and guidance.
There are several other successful entrepreneurs across the Kashmir region who have proven that being stuck in searching for a government job is only a waste of time and energy. However, trying one’s luck in the private sector can not only allow individuals to be self-reliant, but also create opportunities for hundreds of others.
