Tailoring centres across J&K empowering female folks
Tauseef Ahmad
SRINAGAR, Aug 19: The central government sponsored schemes are fast helping empower rural women across Jammu and Kashmir to earn a livelihood in a dignified manner.
Tailoring centres being established under UMEED is one of the schemes of Jammu Kashmir National Rural Livelihood Mission (JKNRLM) that is doing wonders in rural areas by providing an independent atmosphere to zealous women who want to carve out a niche in their lives.
In central Kashmir’s Zazna village of Ganderbal district a tailoring centre has been set up fully sponsored under the central government scheme. Around 50 women are engaged in this tailoring center that is running in full swing. Women getting training cum stipend in this tailoring center are full of praise for the government for initiating such schemes in rural areas.
“We didn’t afford to continue our studies. After Covid-19 hit the world, hundreds of girls dropped out from schools due to their poor economic conditions. We are thankful to the government for initiating such an initiative,” said Humaira, a B.A student who left her studies after Covid lockdown and is now working in a tailoring centre in Ganderbal.
Another girl Aneesa (24) from Ashtangoo Bandipora told Kashmir Despatch that her father is a labourer by profession. “I completed my Bachelors in Science in 2021. I had no option but to go for skill training to support my family. For the last seven months I have been working in this tailoring centre and am able to support my aged father.”
Aneesa added: “I have learnt this craft in difficult circumstances. I support my family as I don’t have any brothers to increase our living standard. We are three sisters. I am the elder one. This government scheme helps us to earn a livelihood that enables us to support our families.”
She added that the government provides them with tailoring machines and material for carpet weaving. “These schemes are a ray of hope for housewives and school dropout girls to earn a living and to support their families as well,” Sumaira, a girl student in a tailoring centre in Baramulla told Kashmir Despatch.
Another local student of a tailoring centre, Pakeeza said that the girls have a passion to learn tailoring because nowadays they also want to become independent and earn their livelihood themselves. “I have a dream to open my own boutique and start cutting and tailoring now,” she added.
Giving details Noorin Amin Khan, Block Manger UMEED under Jammu Kashmir National Rural Livelihood Mission (JKNRLM) Ganderbal said that around 30 ladies from different villages are learning tailoring under a Self Help Group (SHG) trainer. “The trainer is a certified one who is teaching them Cutting Tailoring and designs that are in vogue across the country.”
She added: “We also support these girls in marketing and selling these products and the JKRLM also provides some wages during their training session so that they can also support their families too. Our aim is to train these women in different arts so that they become independent and earn their livelihood in a dignified manner.”
