In Budgam, the F20 Restaurant, is the result of an initiative by Jammu & Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission (JKRLM), UMEED. Restaurant owner Nida says this JKRLM UMEED scheme is very helpful especially for womenfolk. She was guided all along to set up her restaurant café F20. She says people generally come to eat pizza in her restaurant. There are six employees working in my restaurant and they got the work because of UMEED. UMEED not only helped me set up my business but has enabled me to provide employment to six more people. In this way, more people are benefitting and getting employment through the initiatives of UMEED scheme of the government, says Nida.
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.
Restaurant manager Yasir Ali Dar is grateful to UMEED for getting the role of a manager. Restaurant staff Kaisar Ahmad Sofi says, this is a Central Government sponsored scheme through which we could start this restaurant. I had work experience but no source of income. The CIF team gave us information about the UMEED scheme. This scheme has always proved beneficial for us. We got exposure and our restaurant business is running smoothly. Restaurant owner Nida says we are benefitting through the scheme and women are getting independent.