Rajouri, Jan 24 (KNO): A woman from Rajouri district of Jammu division has become a job provider from job seeker by starting a spices factory in her locality.
Qamar-un-Nisa, a resident of Rehtal area in Rajouri district, started her spice factory in 2022 and currently around 26 local women are working at her factory where they are earning their livelihood.
Speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Nisa said that they were struggling to manage their life due to financial issues as there was no earning hand in their family.
“We were planning to start a business but the financial issues played spoilsport for a long time,” she said. “In 2022, I came to know about the Self Help Groups of NRLM department and instantly joined it and after sometime availed a loan where guarantor isn't required,” she added.
After getting a loan, Nisa said that she purchased a machine for spices so as to pack spices and sell them in the market. “We worked hard and started packing different spices and selling them in the market and our current income is more than 3 lakh,” she said.
“Around 26 local women are associated with us who too are earning their livelihood very well,” she said, adding that whatever they are today is only because of the NRLM department.
She requested every woman to join SHGs and take benefit of other government schemes as well to start their units at a small level and that will help them to become financially independent.
Qamar-un-Nisa said that joining an SHG is a better option for the women folk as they can continue their work at their home and start small units to stand on their own legs to become financially independent.
Self-Help Groups have proven to be an effective mechanism for poverty alleviation and women’s empowerment.
Through their collective strength, SHGs have provided access to finance, built livelihood opportunities, and fostered social inclusion for continued success of women.
There are hundreds of women in rural areas who are dependent on their family for everything but they must take advantage of the government schemes to become financially independent, she said.
She said that by joining NRLM, she isn't earning livelihood for her family but helping others too—(KNO)