JAMMU: The Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh Chapter of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry Ladies Organisation (FICCI FLO) hosted “Samriddhi”, an event celebrating a year of impactful initiatives focused on women’s empowerment, grassroots entrepreneurship and collaborative development across the region.
Nasir Aslam Wani, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, attended the programme as the Chief Guest, while Poonam Sharma, National President of FICCI FLO, was the Guest of Honour. The event witnessed participation from FLO members, Self-Help Group (SHG) workers, Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) representatives and dignitaries from various professional and social sectors.
Addressing the gathering, Aarti Chowdhary, Chairperson of FICCI FLO JKL, described Samriddhi as a celebration of the chapter’s journey over the past year marked by collaboration, grassroots engagement and meaningful impact. She said the chapter focused on working closely with SHGs, FPOs and cooperative institutions to ensure women are supported in building sustainable livelihoods and entrepreneurial opportunities.
During the event, FICCI FLO JKL highlighted several collaborations aimed at strengthening women-led economic participation. The chapter signed MoUs with cooperatives such as UAM, MCL and the Jammu and Kashmir Dairy Cooperative Federation, along with a partnership with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to create structured livelihood opportunities for rural women and SHG members.
The chapter also signed a national-level MoU with UMMAC and MCL Cooperative, along with three state-level MoUs with the State Rural Livelihoods Mission (SRLM), FIDGO and Government Degree College Kathua to promote skill development, entrepreneurship and capacity building.
A major highlight of the year was the Skill-to-Scale initiative, under which more than 100 women from SHGs and FPOs received training. In collaboration with Nidra Mattresses, these women were able to convert their skills into livelihood opportunities by producing pillow covers for the company, creating a sustainable source of income.
The chapter also launched two initiatives, including a women-led dairy livelihood programme in collaboration with NABARD under which cattle were provided to women beneficiaries, and the installation of Automatic Weather Stations to strengthen community preparedness and access to weather information.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Guest Nasir Aslam Wani appreciated FLO’s efforts in empowering women at the grassroots level and strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region.
Guest of Honour Poonam Sharma commended the JKL Chapter for its collaborative approach and impactful initiatives, stating that FLO’s strength lies in translating vision into meaningful impact through partnerships that create sustainable opportunities for women.
The event concluded with a renewed commitment towards promoting inclusive growth, sustainable livelihoods and women-led development across Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.
