Inspiration

Meet First Lady ‘Kashmiri Wazas’ from Central Kashmir

Taha Yaseen
Taha Yaseen
3 Min Read
One of the members of Self Help Group—Khushbu, Humaira told to media that they have been engaged with UMEED since 2013.

For the last three decades or so, Delhi has been exposed to the glories of Kashmiri food. Or, to be more specific, Wazwan. It is a banquet conjured up entirely of lamb and it is cooked by a community of caterers called wazas. Kashmiri ‘Waza’ (Chef), is no longer a male dominated job in the Valley as for the first time, nearly half a dozen ladies from central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district under the assistance of J&K Rural Livelihoods Mission’s (JKRLM) UMEED scheme have successfully been able to serve famous delicacies to the people and have earned their name as well. This is first of its kind instance of women empowerment by providing them confidence and the support of all kinds that they needed to showcase their talent.

One of the members of Self Help Group—Khushbu, Humaira explained that they have been engaged with UMEED since 2013. They faced many odds, but did not stop as knew that UMEED is going to provide them many benefits in the near future. Besides Humaira, Ishrat Irshad, Zahida Basheer, Akhtar Jan and Yasmeena Bano are co-helpers of Khushbu.  Humaria, who hails from Lar area of Ganderbal claimed that Kashmiri Waza was a male dominated job, however we managed to get engaged in this field since we started our trainings at Solina. Their happiness was emanating from their faces while they were being interviewed. This is a large change in the outlook towards women and gender roles. Its impact are far reaching, it would give more fruits with the time when other women shall also get work for maintaining their names in the society.

They successfully set up units and are being invited for many functions like engagements and other marriage-related events as well. “Though, they don’t have any restaurant, but last year, they prepared food for the Amarnath Yatries at the base camp while some of girls were running a canteen at Rambagh as well. Humaira is another member of Self Help Group, who has installed her cart at NRLM’s SARAS at Boulevard in Srinagar. She appealed to girls not to let their passion down and work hard to achieve their goal. This story is quite inspiring for whole Kashmir that it has the capacity to single-handedly change the overall scenario of job creation. Kashmiris have always been stuck to government jobs or been dreaming so given the pressure from the society. Kashmiri society needs a change in overall perspective to become an inclusive society and accept the different roles and jobs condone by the highly talented youth of Kashmir.

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