Self help groups

The Government of Jammu and Kashmir is trying to encourage women self help groups to run canteens in government offices under RLM.

Basically the administration is keen towards emancipating women as a self reliant member of this society.

In a first, the Kashmir State Taxes Department, Kashmir, has commenced such a canteen facility from its main complex at Excise and Taxation Complex, Solina which was inaugurated by Commissioner Secretary Rural Development.

The space and infrastructure for running the canteen has been provided by the department while the services are to be managed by a team of eight members of different Self Help Groups from Ganderbal district under UMEED scheme of National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), Department of Rural Development.

Terming the move an encouraging initiative towards women empowerment, appreciated the efforts of Mission Director J&K RLM and officers of State Taxes department for facilitating the Self Help Groups earn their livelihood through such initiatives. She highlighted that the new canteen, being run by the Women Self Help Group, set up in the department will become a role model for similar canteens in other districts and government departments.

Officials while interacting with the members of Self Help Groups, highlighted that collaboration on one hand fulfils the need of the department by making available affordable and hygienic food options within the complex to its employees besides boosting microenterprises being set up by women belonging to economically weaker sections of the society on the other hand.

It is worthwhile to mention that these women Self Help Groups are being identified by RDD & PR under UMEED and are being trained professionally.