Insha Shabir, from south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, has become a beacon of empowerment and success: courtesy, the Central Government’s Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM). Hailing from Aarigam in Pulwama, Insha’s journey from a modest background to a thriving business owner is a testament to the transformative impact of DAY-NRLM on the lives of women entrepreneurs in the region.
In an interview during the ongoing Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, Insha shared her inspiring story. Her introduction to DAY-NRLM in 2017 marked the beginning of a remarkable chapter in her life.
Launched by the Ministry of Rural Development in 2011, DAY-NRLM focuses on creating robust institutional platforms for rural communities, empowering them to boost household income through sustainable livelihoods and improved access to financial services.
Insha’s childhood interest in designing and crafting clothes found a nurturing space when she enrolled in the local tailoring school under DAY-NRLM. Her passion evolved into a business opportunity and a means of livelihood. Post completing the design course, she aspired to establish her own boutique. With a PMEGP Umeed loan and financial support from DAY-NRLM, she successfully realized her dream by setting up the boutique.
For Insha, DAY-NRLM played a pivotal role in turning her aspirations into reality. She highlighted that the subsidised loan provided under the scheme was instrumental in overcoming initial hurdles.
Expressing gratitude to the government, Insha said that schemes like DAY-NRLM are instrumental in fostering financial independence, not just for her but for individuals from economically modest backgrounds.
Insha’s boutique, though modest in size, has become synonymous with development (vikas) and self-reliance (aatmanirbharta). She not only manages her finances independently but also provides employment to other women, creating a ripple effect of empowerment and economic growth in the community.
