Pampore woman starts restaurant, provides job to unemployment youth
Pulwama: A 43-year-old woman from Pampore area in south Kashmir has started a restaurant with the help of Umeed to earn livelihood for herself and provide job opportunities for others as well.
Mir Masarat Qounsar, a resident of Shaar village in Khrew Pampore hamlet of south Kashmir’s Pulwama is currently helping and counseling hundreds of women in the area on how to take help from ‘Umeed’ in starting their business.
Mir Masrat Kousar while talking to ‘Kashmir Vision’ said that she had earlier started a readymade and cloth shop in her locality with the help of Umeed where she had kept a sales girl.
“Now I have started a restaurant ‘Unique’ along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Lethpora Pampore where I have employed three youth who were earlier jobless,” she said.
She added that credit of her success goes to Umeed as it wasn’t possible for her to start any venture without it the support she got from it.
Masarat said that in year 2018, she came to know about the Self Help Groups run under Umeed, a government initiative under NRLM.
“When no one was putting trust on me and my dreams ‘UMEED’ helped to to realize my dreams,” she remembers.
Masrat said that she has visited different far off places of Kashmir division to counsel women to join self help groups so as to take benefit of this government initiative.
“Currently we have only vegetarian restaurant, however, we are planning to start non-vegetarian restaurant as well,” she adds, beaming with the success she has already achieved.
SHGs have not only helped me to become self dependent but I am now helping my family members financially, she said, adding that it has become possible only because of SHGs.
“In last four years I have made a good progress and due to the UMEED scheme I have made my own image in my area and my respect in village is of such level that people ask for my opinion on every new venture the jobless youth or women wish to take p.
She while advising the women of J&K to take benefits of UMEED scheme and join SHGs in their areas, said that the UMEED has given her a name and a unique identity, making her independent.
“Youth especially women shouldn’t waste their time only after government jobs but they should join SHGs and start small businesses and if they work hard, they will definitely become independent and live a very happy life,” she adds.
Jahangeer Ganaie
