Opinion | Women entrepreneurs of Kashmir: stories of resilience

Kashmiri women continue to lead and innovate despite unrest, and social barriers. In villages across Kashmir, women have become central to how families and communities run. Women step up to manage households, raise children, and generate income. From managing farms to weaving pashmina shawls, they are innovators who ensure their families’ survival. For years, life in Kashmir has not been easy. There have been times when markets shut, and movement becomes difficult, so this work gets affected. In such conditions, starting something of your own is not simple, especially for women. Still, many have moved ahead, starting small and continuing despite all this. Apart from this, there have been signs of support even among startups registered in Jammu and Kashmir, where there is an increase in such startups in recent times. Organizations like JKEDI have witnessed a huge number of startups registering themselves, which include women-owned businesses as well.

The SHG scheme has helped many women come together, save money, and take small loans. Along with this, training centres are teaching skills like tailoring, farming, and handicrafts. These efforts are helping women start small work from home or nearby. These initiatives have been launched to help Kashmiri women gain financial autonomy and vocational training.

Rubi Jan of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district has formed her mushroom unit in Yaripora village. She is a mother of three kids and manages household chores with her business. Mushroom production needs care and dedication. It is not a once-in-a-while business, but it is done every day. Although her business might be modest, it serves her purpose and brings consistency.

Shahzada of Pulwama has her very own cowshed. She comes from an economically poor family, and thus her path was not easy. Cattle business takes perseverance and dedication. It does not give immediate outcomes. However, she has managed to create something consistent for herself.

Gulshan Begum from Dudipora in Handwara is one such example. She is engaged in organic fertilizer production, working with vermicompost and related agricultural support schemes. The work is simple but requires consistency. Through her effort, she not only earns but also sends a clear message to the youth: do not depend entirely on jobs, create something of your own.

Aneesa Iqbal represents a younger generation. A student by routine and an entrepreneur by choice, she manages a small business making soaps and candles. There is no fixed system in her day. Studies and work overlap. Yet she continues, learning both together, showing that even small beginnings can take shape with time.

Razia Sultana from Kupwara district, who chose not to wait for a government job. After facing financial hardship in her family, she joined a crewel embroidery training centre in Trehgam. What started with a small stipend grew into skill and experience. Today, she runs her own unit, earning regularly and training other girls in the area. Her work has created income not just for herself but for many others.

Haseena Begum, another story from Kupwara, was once running a small hotel on rent. She shifted to organic farming after guidance from the agriculture department. With a small loan, she began vegetable cultivation. The results came gradually, but steadily. Today, she leads a group of women engaged in farming, showing how small steps can lead to larger change.

Syed Naireen Zein from Baramulla, represents a different kind of enterprise. A civil engineering graduate pursuing higher studies, she started a packaging and decoration service called Sheen Wraps N Ribbons. The idea came from a simple need that people in her area had to travel far for such services. She began with small orders within her family circle. With time, her work gained attention. She now provides customised packaging, gift hampers, and event-related items at reasonable prices, and her business has expanded beyond her locality.

Chasfida, who hailed from Palhallan, Baramulla, managed to change her life completely as she began to farm using her husband’s fallow land when her family was experiencing monetary problems. She began with small initiatives from the confines of her courtyard, but eventually ventured into agriculture. Although there were questions from people surrounding her, she persisted until she became economically sound. Currently, she is a supplier of vegetables in various areas, and also employs other women.

Challenges continue to exist, and social expectations still influence how far women can go. In a region like Kashmir, uncertainty adds another layer, where plans often change and work gets delayed. Despite all this, these women continue their work. There is a slow change in how people think within communities. Young girls watching them see a different possibility. Women, in their own way, are shaping a different future for Kashmir.

The next generation should grow up with confidence and the freedom to choose their path. When people get that space, they build better lives, not just for themselves but for others too. The future depends on such individuals who are willing to take responsibility and shape something better through their own effort.

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