Meet Nahida and hamida female entrepreneurs running profitable business.

Nahida and Hamida: Kashmir’s rural entrepreneurs running profitable businesses.
Rural women increasingly are running their own enterprises, yet their socio-economic contributions and entrepreneurial potential remain largely unrecognized and untapped.

These hard-working women who, despite their humble beginnings, have overcome all the odds to chase their dreams and soar high.
These women have been recognized as an important source of economic support to their families. They not only have got themselves out from utter poverty but were also able to create employment for others. However, they still represent a minority of all entrepreneurs.
Rising Kashmir’s Misabah Bhat spoke to the two women entrepreneurs who had a dream and the determination to succeed.
Nahida Parveen, 24, from Baramulla started her Kirana shop in 2018.
After dropping out of school at an early age, Nahida was determined to do something on her own and help her family financially.
“Our financial condition was not good. We had no money and were very poor. I took out a loan and with the assistance of the Umeed scheme to set up a small shop to make ends meet,” she said.

Nahida is now doing well as the Kirana shop is fetching her decent living.
“I have an eight-year-old kid and am able to strike a balance between my shop and my family affairs.” she said.

Nahida’s husband has been encouraging her.
“I had full support of my family and they are happy also as our financial conditions which were bad changed for good.”

Nahida lives in a joint family and all her family members are dependent on the kirana shop and she is handling it quite well.

“I am glad I took the decision of opening my shop though it was not easy but I somehow managed. Initially I was sceptical whether it is going to be beneficial or not. There were many questions doing rounds in my head, but it turned out well,” she said.
Nahida brought stability to her family in a short span of time because of her zeal and commitment towards her work.

“I have worked hard to reach where I am today. The journey has not been simple, there have been many ups and downs,” she said.
Nahida believes a person should be honest and true to himself and his work.