Opinion | Kashmiri Women in Business: Hunar Se Rozgar Tak Leadership, Innovation, and Economic Transformation

“Women entrepreneurs are transforming the economy by breaking barriers and leading businesses in diverse fields such as handicrafts, agriculture, tourism, and technology”.

Women entrepreneurs are playing a crucial role in the process of economic transformation. Despite difficulties, they are building businesses, generating both employment and acting as an inspiration for others to follow them. This contribution of women is steadfast proof through their triumph and innovative approaches that they equally transcend in diverse vocations between handicrafts to agriculture, tourism, technology, and education.
Earlier, the role of women was restricted primarily to household activities or assistance in family businesses. But today is different. Thanks to improved education, support from the government, and exposure to technology, women are increasingly joining the world of entrepreneurship. Not only are they earning for themselves, but also contributing to their families and societies becoming economically more prosperous.
Women entrepreneurs are transforming the economic landscape through the breaking of barriers, job creation, and driving innovation in the different sectors. Overcoming social challenges and economic constraints, they have been able to venture into businesses in areas including agriculture, handicrafts, tourism, and technology. Their efforts are leading to economic development, sustainability, and motivating the future generation.
Entrepreneurship was for decades a man’s domain and women were not encouraged to be entrepreneurs. All that is history. Women today are opening and operating successful businesses despite adversity such as limited funds and peer pressure.
Government and non-government programs are leading the way in empowering women entrepreneurs by offering capital, entrepreneurial education, and networking. The programs are enabling women to turn their ideas into successful ventures and demonstrating how access to resources and determination can bring unimaginable success.
Handicrafts were cultural heritage, and women had traditionally been engaged in making handmade products like shawls, carpets, and other decorative items. They would work behind the scenes as men handled the sales. Today, women are taking over in full—designing, making, marketing, and selling their crafts within the country and abroad. Even the industry of handloom has changed with the development of e-commerce. Many women artisans are now selling their items online to consumers across the globe and getting a fair price for their work. This has improved their economic status as well as encouraged traditional craftsmanship.
Shabana is an entrepreneur from Ganderbal. She grew up seeing her mother create beautiful shawls. She realized that artisans were not being paid the right price for their work. To connect with the wider audience, she opened an online store for selling handmade products directly to the customers. In no time, she was able to extend her marketplace, with help from websites and extensive use of social media platforms like Instagram, to any corner of the world. Her business has blossomed since then, and she has assisted many artisans in earning a decent livelihood by having their skills appreciated and paid for.
Women have been engaged in agriculture for decades, with the task of undertaking post-harvest activities like packaging and marketing crops. But now, they are at the forefront of organic and sustainable agriculture, advocating for green practices and food security. The growing need for chemical-free food has opened up new avenues for women entrepreneurs. Some have begun organic farms, marketing fresh produce in local markets and online. Not only do they provide healthier food production, but they also help in environmental sustainability.
Mugli Begum, who is a Sopore farmer, has worked on the fields for over three decades. Though she faced difficulties like poor weather conditions and low availability of resources, she persevered in working as a farmer. She went on to adapt organic farming later on and planted various vegetables like tomatoes, spinach, and potatoes. She began the process of educating other women from her village about sustainable techniques of farming, persuading them to adopt organic farming. She now supplies fresh vegetables to markets near her locality and has also emerged as an icon for women farmers in her region.
A farmer’s daughter from Pulwama, Ayesha wanted to grow food without the use of chemicals. To make a living, Ayesha started a small organic farm-raised vegetables, fruits, and saffron. Many were convinced it was a joke, but the spirit in her made her do it. She joined agricultural training courses and received training in new organic farming methods.Now, she provides organic fruits and vegetables to restaurants and supermarkets, earning a good income and encouraging healthy eating.
Tourism has long been a major engine of the economy, yet for decades, women have had little influence on the hospitality sector and they are running guesthouses, tour agencies, and cultural tourism ventures that provide visitors with an authentic experience of local traditions. By promoting indigenous crafts, cuisine, and heritage, women entrepreneurs in tourism are also supporting other small businesses and boosting the local economy.
The Indian Army has assisted women’s entrepreneurship development in Kashmir through direct help, training, as well as providing finances. One of the major initiatives is Hunar Se Rozgar Tak which is aimed at enhancing women’s skill base in areas like tailoring, embroidery, among other handicrafts. For example, in Baramulla district in North Kashmir, the Army constructed a vocational training center through which women like Shaista Bano were taught tailoring. With the skills she learned, Bano was able to start a boutique, which today hires women from the region so they can work and become self-sufficient in the process. Likewise, in Kupwara district, Hunar Se Rozgar Tak has enabled women to learn the art of traditional Kashmiri handicrafts, allowing the women to market their Pashmina shawls and masquerade souvenirs to different parts of India. The Indian Army has thus helped Women overcome social hurdles and become financially empowered by equipping them with essential skills and enabling them to start their own businesses.
The Army plays a key role in creating market connections and opportunities for women entrepreneurs going beyond just training. Take Anantnag where the Army set up a show for women-run businesses to display their goods drawing buyers from Srinagar and other places. In Rajouri, the Army backs a self-help group model that’s making a difference. Here, women work in dairy farming and pickle-making, and now their products reach markets outside the valley. The Hunar Se Rozgar Tak program has helped many of these women get small loans letting them grow their businesses. The Army also helps business growth in an indirect way by keeping the area safe and stable. This allows women entrepreneurs to succeed in a place that’s seen a lot of conflict in the past. These actions don’t just help individual women – they boost Kashmir’s overall social and economic growth strengthening peace by giving women more economic power.
Overcoming Challenges, despite their success, women entrepreneurs face several challenges, including societal pressure, which expects them to prioritize household duties over business. Lack of financial support is another challenge since many women find it difficult to secure loans because they lack collateral. Male-led businesses often get preference, thereby limiting women’s access to the most essential funding.
Additionally, limited opportunities for networking make things even harder. More so than men, women have sufficiently lesser networking opportunities with business mentors, investors, and industry leaders to develop such networks. This makes the networking all the more necessary when it comes to helping their businesses since it carries with it the benefits of mentorship, visibility, and opportunities for collaboration. Several measures have been adopted at the level of the government and NGOs to counter this menace: some financial assistance programs, some business training-type initiatives, and others that offer the platform for networking. Various government schemes, like Stand-Up India, Mudra Yojana, and Women Entrepreneurship Platform, are aiding in bridging that gap by supporting financial aid and training. Through this, women will receive targeted help to overcome barriers to entrepreneurship and make their contributions toward economic growth. A mix of hard work and dedication will help women entrepreneurs break the glass ceiling, thus creating a far more inclusive and thriving business landscape.
A Promising Future for Women Entrepreneurs, As more women step into the world of business, the economy is becoming stronger and more diverse. Women are proving that they can succeed in any industry, whether it’s handicrafts, farming, tourism, technology, or education. By reaching this level of achievement, not only do they open the doors to financial independence for themselves, but also to the many young girls who now realize that they too can dream. If support is extended to them by the government, the NGOs, or other private organizations, the women entrepreneurs would ensure that positive practices continue. Their stories signal to everyone concerned that economic growth is possible when women are put in charge and allowed to innovate.
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