Bandipora, March 9,2026- In Bonkoot, 23 women are spending nearly seven hours daily at a local spinning wheel centre, earning barely ₹20–₹30 per day, according to reports from the village.
The women, who rely on this work as their primary source of livelihood, described the job as “like suicide,” citing the long hours and meager pay that make it difficult to support their families. They stressed the urgent need for better wages and livelihood opportunities to improve their quality of life.
Local residents and activists have highlighted that such small-scale handicraft and spinning work is often undervalued despite requiring immense labor and skill. Many women in the area, they say, have no alternative source of income, leaving them dependent on low-paying traditional jobs.
Experts note that improving remuneration for women engaged in cottage industry work and providing access to skill development programs could help uplift households and promote economic empowerment in rural areas like Bonkoot.
The women have appealed to the authorities and NGOs to intervene and ensure fair compensation, hoping that their contributions to traditional craftsmanship are recognised and adequately rewarded.
