Pulwama: In a short span of time, Gulistan Self-Help Group (SHG), a collective of women from humble backgrounds, has made a name for itself in Kashmir’s pickle market. With dedication and government support, these women have transformed their financial struggles into a thriving entrepreneurial venture.
Officials from the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihood Mission (DAY-NULM) told Rising Kashmir that the group was formed by women from Awantipora who came together with the shared goal of financial independence. The DAY-NULM team played a crucial role in guiding them toward livelihood opportunities, ultimately leading them to start small-scale pickle production.
“Their journey from financial struggles to successful entrepreneurs in the pickle-making business is a testament to empowerment through unity and government support,” said Raqeeb Raja, Manager, DAY-NULM Pulwama. He added that the initiative was spearheaded by Insha and Zahida, who initially packed their homemade pickles in simple polythene packets.
“In the beginning, we had limited resources and packed pickles in basic polythene bags,” said Insha, recalling their early days. “With DAY-NULM’s assistance, we obtained FSSAI registration, which allowed us to improve our packaging and branding.”
“We transitioned to attractively labeled bottles, which significantly enhanced our market reach,” added Zahida.
Jibran Rayees, Manager, DAY-NULM Pulwama, narrated that the group was helped to establish ties with wholesale dealers and tourist markets in Pampore, Letapora, and Sangam Pulwama.
The group’s growing reputation has even led to bulk orders, including a recent procurement proposal from the J&K Cooperative Department.
To further expand their business, Gulistan SHG secured a ₹2 lakh loan under the Bank Linkage component, which served as their seed capital. Today, they generate a monthly turnover of ₹50,000 and actively participate in district and state-level exhibitions to showcase their products.
Raqeeb Raja and Jibran Rayees praised the group’s resilience and encouraged more women to pursue entrepreneurship, assuring them of full support under DAY-NULM.
