Fighting Unemployment & Depression: Women in J&K Turn to Tapestry Art

Fighting Unemployment & Depression: Women in J&K Turn to Tapestry Art We come to the centre here in Anantnag, Jammu & Kashmir, which was set up about two years ago, to learn tapestry. We are are new here. I joined this year, said Fancy, a Beneficiary in Jammu & Kashmir. Another Beneficiary, Muntazeer Shakeel said, they make designs of peacocks, fishes, houses, trees, sunflowers, etc Beneficairy Shazia explaining her daily routine at the centre said, she comes around ten every morning. Around 1 pm she breaks for lunch for an hour. Than at 4 pm she finishes tapestry work for the day to go home. Twenty girls are working today. Tomorrow another batch of twenty girls will work on tapestry. So everyone will benefit something. Tomorrow we can complete our degree in this craft and fill forms and get selected. For that we need to practice this art of tapestry crochet, said Muntazeer Shakeel. When we are busy in doing some work, then our physical as well as mental health stays fine, Shaziya added. Even the learned sisters, daughters and mothers should come to the centre, learn the art and do something for themselves to stand on their own feet. Do not sist idle and be the victim of depression. Come to the centre and look at the benefits that you will gain. These centres have been opened by the Government under JKRLM UMEED scheme to end unemployment, Beneficiary Fancy said. By doing some good work, we will earn respect. We will destroy ourselves by leaning towards bad activities, said Muntazeer Shakeel. If we do the right thing, it will be better for us, said the women beneficiary in J&K.