Nida Ramzan Counters Conflict With Crunchy Cookies

Kashmir Valley has faced political disorder since decades and the human rights abuses in the state have particularly affected the economic and social status of women in the region. Moreover, crimes against women have made it very difficult for the educated women to work beyond the traditional jobs and their defined chores. Still, women have managed to break barriers and follow their dreams, even if modified.

In Kashmir when we talk about business, we talk of men only. Traditionally, despite constituting majority of workforce in agriculture and handicrafts – two main vocations of the Valley, women did not own or operate businesses on their own. But that is all now changing. Young women of Kashmir are breaking all the barriers and treading the path of business which otherwise would be a man’s domain only.

Young girls today make their presence felt by taking up their dream jobs and becoming a role model for others who want to excel in the fields of their interest. In Bandipora, once a hot bed of Militancy, several girls have started their new own ventures and become an inspiration for others, Nida Ramzan from Ashtingoo Bandipora is one of them.

26 year old Nida Ramzan is a student of Information Technology and is currently Persuing MSc IT.And is today a voice for enterpreneurs in the Valley.

Nida always wanted to to something different.She started baking cookes and named her brand, Koshur Krunch. But it was a tough journey. She had no funds and finally a Pune based organisation Aseem Foundation came to her help. In 18 months Nida’s cookies are selling in a number of states.

She has now trained seven girls in Uri and Bandipora who work with her. They are all earning a regular income.

For Nida the response has been amazing. She now has another bakery init in Uri Baramulla where four girls were working. “I want to provide employment to other girls by expanding the business,”she said.

In her view girls in Kashmir should work, strike out as they have a “ot of potential and ability.” She said that women should not remain dependent on government jobs but recognise their talent, their ability and move forward. She said that to move from the technology area to baking was not easy to begin with, but hard work helped open shut doors.

Happy with her success today, everyone in her family is proud of her work. Her sister want to do something similar. “My parents and my family has been really supportive,” Nida said.