Abida Begam, Beneficiary of UMEED scheme in Budgam, Jammu & Kashmir says it is a good scheme that supports poor families. Earlier, we were just sitting at home in tension, how will we earn our living and feed our families. I consulted with my friends. We approached the UMEED centre in Budgam and asked for a loan to run our own business. We were granted a loan to make bags. We benefitted a lot. Slowly I could pay the fees of my child and was able to bear household expenses. I tell other ladies too to join the scheme, to earn their own bread and have the freedom to spend their own money rather than asking money from mothers and fathers. This is the advantage of the scheme. Abida’s husband assists her in running the bag business. He says after getting associated with the scheme, we have seen a marked difference. Earlier, we used to share a chapatti and now, we can have a chapatti each to ourselves. Our living condition has also improved.
The National Rural Livelihoods Mission is being run in the State of J&K as Jammu & Kashmir State Rural Livelihoods Mission (Umeed). J&K SRLM mandate is: to reach out to 66% of rural population across the erstwhile 125 blocks, Link them to sustainable livelihoods opportunities and nurture them till they come out of poverty and enjoy a decent quality of life.
News Desk, Kashmir Ahead