Srinagar Jan 26: Kashmiri girls have taken on online businesses with more than 700 young women started their ventures over the last few years.
As per the details collected, more than 700 Kashmiri girls have started their online businesses since 2015. These women are associated with selling handicrafts, clothes, jewelry, and eatables. They believe that online business was easy way to make money as it does not require much investment and can work from home.
Two girls Omaira Jan and Beenish Jan started ‘Craft World Kashmir’ in 2015, which deals in floral jewellery for brides, dresses for children and other items.
They upload their basic designs on Instagram, Facebook and other social media pages and receive orders.
“We were doing very well till August 5, 2019. Then the Internet was suspended for months which shut our business. Now with 2G internet speed, we are not able to properly display our products and customers are finding it difficult to put their orders. It becomes very difficult to run an online business here with 2G internet speed,” Omaira said.
At present, they provide employment to 20 girls who weave and stitch clothes.
Similarly, Mehak Jan, who resides in uptown Srinagar, is also selling suits she imports from Dubai. “After completing my masters in 2018, I started my own business. I and my cousin sell these suits online and also supply to various dealers in Kashmir. We have social media pages where we receive orders then deliver to customers. We have annual turnover of over Rs 14 lakh,” she said.
Two boys Sami Ullah and Abid Rashid, started ‘Fast Beetle’ in 2018, a specialised delivery service.
Sami Ullah said they deliver products of 500 Kashmiri girls who are doing online businesses including clothes, jewellery, crockery, handicraft items and eatables.
They also work in collaboration with some courier companies for delivering goods outside the valley.
As there has been flourishing of online businesses in Kashmir over the years, the low internet speed is hampering businesses of young entrepreneurs in the valley.
Post August 5 2019, the internet was suspended for months in Kashmir. After resumption, the speed of the internet has been restricted to 2G for around 11 months now. (KINS)
