Rakshanda Gul
“When a girl completes her education, when a woman starts a business, when tourists return home with positive memories, and when families feel confident about tomorrow, the benefits extend far beyond one individual. They strengthen the social and economic fabric of Jammu & Kashmir and help build a future based on opportunity, dignity and shared prosperity.”
When a girl completes her education, when a woman starts a business, when tourists return home with positive memories, and when families feel confident about tomorrow, the benefits extend far beyond one individual. They strengthen the social and economic fabric of Jammu & Kashmir and help build a future based on opportunity, dignity and shared prosperity.
There was a time when discussions about Jammu & Kashmir rarely moved beyond headlines. Today, a different picture is emerging across the region. Early in the morning, students leave for schools with backpacks on their shoulders, tourists walk through the Mughal Gardens and Dal Lake, local markets remain busy until evening, and women can be seen managing shops, welcoming visitors, attending colleges and running their own businesses. These everyday scenes may look ordinary, but they reflect something very important: peace creates the confidence that helps a society move forward.
Development does not happen overnight. It grows slowly when people feel secure enough to plan for tomorrow. Families invest in education, young people think about careers, businesses expand, and visitors choose the region as a travel destination. In every one of these changes, women have become an important part of the story.
Every Classroom Tells a Story
Education is often the first area to benefit from stability. When schools function regularly and colleges remain open, students can focus on learning instead of uncertainty.
Across Jammu & Kashmir, many parents are encouraging their daughters to continue higher education. Girls who once stopped their studies after school are now joining universities, professional colleges and skill development programmes. Many aspire to become doctors, engineers, teachers, lawyers and civil servants.
The difference can be observed in urban and rural areas as well. Women are empowered to take decisions because of education and help in running the household and contributing to society.
In north Kashmir, numerous girls from districts such as Kupwara and Baramulla are opting for higher education at places other than their native place. Many of them have cleared entrance tests for professional courses and government jobs.
Tourism Changes More Than the Economy
Tourism is often measured by the number of visitors, but its real impact can be seen in the lives of local families. As tourists arrive in Kashmir, there are reservations at hotels, cabs run round the clock, there is an increased number of customers in restaurants, and handicraft shops have fresh customers. Small-scale enterprises can earn from this thriving industry too, as tourists tend to be interested in local produce.
There have been new opportunities for women in this thriving industry. Some have taken up homestays, some prepare Kashmiri cuisine for tourists, and many sell handcrafted goods which have cultural significance. In Gurez Valley, Sonmarg, as well as in Ladakh, women have taken up family homestays where tourists get the opportunity to know about the local culture.
A Stable Environment Encourages New Investment
Every investor looks for confidence before making a decision. Roads, electricity and digital connectivity matter, but stability gives businesses the assurance to plan for the future.
Today, investments are reaching sectors such as hospitality, horticulture, food processing, renewable energy and healthcare. These projects create employment, strengthen local markets and improve public infrastructure. Young people benefit because new businesses bring fresh career opportunities closer to home.
Several women-led self-help groups are producing saffron-based products, spices, dried vegetables and traditional food items. Their products are now reaching customers through exhibitions and online platforms, allowing small enterprises to grow steadily.
Entrepreneurship Is Creating New Possibilities
Many women in Jammu & Kashmir are opting for the entrepreneurial path. Some have been able to convert their family expertise into businesses, while others have brought entirely new concepts.
Digital technology has enabled easier access to consumers in other parts of India. A product made in a small village can now reach buyers hundreds of kilometres away. This has encouraged young entrepreneurs to experiment with handmade products, fashion, food, beauty services and local crafts.
Business success also creates employment for other women, making the impact much larger than a single enterprise.
The Srinagar-based entrepreneur Tanzeela came up with a project to revitalize the Wagu mat, which was a dying craft art form. Through collaboration with the local artisans and promotion of the craft via the internet, Tanzeela preserved a valuable cultural heritage while providing people with job opportunities.
The story of Asmat highlights how entrepreneurial activity changes one’s own life and also improves other people’s lives. Being a mother of three children living in Sopore, she managed to create a training center and a skincare business, backed by J&K Bank RSETI. Apart from making money and becoming financially independent, her venture has been able to provide job opportunities to other women from the locality, helping them gain practical skills and income. Through training budding entrepreneurs and creating job opportunities within the community, Asmat has set an example of how women entrepreneurs help build the local economy.
Peace Begins at Home
Development is meaningful only when families experience its benefits in daily life.
A stable environment allows parents to think about their children’s education, health and future. Women who earn an income often spend it on school fees, nutritious food, healthcare and household needs. This strengthens the entire family.
Children growing up in secure surroundings are more likely to complete their education, develop new skills and build successful careers.
There have been some instances of unrest in Jammu & Kashmir in the past; however, over the past decade, there have been marked developments towards greater peace and progress. While developments in the area of infrastructure, education and economy can be regarded as markers of progress, peace is also achieved at the family and community level. And women have always been integral to this process of peace-building in their own unique ways. It is the mother’s duty to instill good values in the child right from her tender age, through love, patience and care. These are the values that influence how the person behaves in society as he or she grows older. As tomorrow’s leaders, if our children are raised with values of mutual respect and understanding of society and its responsibilities, then it will lead to peace in Jammu & Kashmir.
Women Are Leading Change Across Jammu & Kashmir
The image of women in Jammu & Kashmir has changed significantly over the years. Today, they are researchers, teachers, entrepreneurs, doctors, police officers, artists, athletes and social workers. They are heading self-help groups, running businesses and working in community development projects.
The success of women motivates young girls to aim higher in life. Parents are now getting more inclined towards providing education and professional jobs to their daughters because there are role models present right in their own communities.
Women are also saving the cultural legacy of Kashmir by preserving traditional art while making it relevant for today’s world.
Looking Towards the Future
Jammu & Kashmir has always been known for its breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural heritage. Today, it is also becoming known for its hardworking youth, determined entrepreneurs and confident women who are contributing to every sector of society.
The journey is still unfolding. Better education, stronger local businesses, responsible tourism, skill development and greater participation of women will continue to shape the region’s future.
Peace has created the space for these changes to take root. The responsibility now lies with everyone government institutions, educational organisations, businesses, civil society and local communities to ensure that this progress reaches every village and every family.
When a girl completes her education, when a woman starts a business, when tourists return home with positive memories, and when families feel confident about tomorrow, the benefits extend far beyond one individual. They strengthen the social and economic fabric of Jammu & Kashmir and help build a future based on opportunity, dignity and shared prosperity.
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