Self-help group imparts training to militancy displaced women

Sumit Hakhoo

Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 14

The skill development programme under the Prime Minister Employment Package meant for militancy displaced youth may have failed to take off but a self-help group established by women is changing lives and empowering girls to stand on their own feet.

Three centres of Athroot (meaning “let’s help each other” in Kashmiri), being run in migrant camps at Jagti, Purkhoo and Muthi are imparting skills to hundreds of displaced Kashmiri Hindu, Sikh and Muslim girls without seeking help of the government or Relief Organisation. 

From tailoring to cutting, embroidery works, beautician course, girls whose families’ main source of income is cash relief provided by the government are being trained to run small businesses.

It has helped many families in generating additional income and in creating social bonding. The centres also sell spices which are ground in machines run by women.

“I learnt embroidery and tailoring to generate additional income for my family,” said Monica Pandita at an Athroot centre in the Jagti township, 13 km from Jammu.   After six months of honing her tailoring skills, she plans to open a boutique.

The centres were first started in 2012 by few women activists with help of an NGO, Sewa Bharti.

“After being given the training, these girls can work independently. A majority of the families face economic hardships after their traumatic exodus from our homeland. It is giving them hope to learn and later earn,” said Jyoti Malhotra, a trainer who herself was displaced from Kashmir in 1990s after the eruption of separatist militancy. 

There is a constant demand from locals that the government should link training programme with the Skill India scheme so that more and more youth are imparted new skills and provided financial assistance to start small business units.

“The government has been talking about a skill development scheme but it has not been extended to militancy displaced youth. We face problems in setting up our business because of financial constraints,” said Renu Bhat who is learning embroidery.

Working without govt help

Three centres of “Athroot” being run in migrant camps at Jagti, Purkhoo and Muthi are imparting skills to displaced Kashmiri Hindu, Sikh and Muslim girls without seeking help of the government or Relief Organisation. These are giving training in tailoring, embroidery works and beautician course.