Drass, Jul 25 (KNO): The 26th Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrations at Vishwanathan Stadium, Drass, witnessed a heartening showcase of women-led entrepreneurship, as independent women farmers from Kargil took the spotlight with their locally produced goods.
Organized by the Family Welfare Organization under the Forever in OPs Division, the exhibition stall featured an impressive variety of organic and value-added products.
Highlights included Apricot Energy Bars, natural juices, sauces, woollen items and the latest addition—handmade natural soaps crafted from apricot and walnut oils. Produced at the Women Empowerment Center in Kumbathang, the soaps attracted significant attention for their superior quality and export-ready packaging.
Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh L. Mandaviya, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), visited the stall, purchased several products and praised the initiative.
Calling it a “model for sustainable development,” he noted the importance of such grassroots efforts in empowering women and promoting self-reliance in remote regions like Kargil.
Speaking to the media, Shikha Krishnan, Chairperson of the Family Welfare Organization (Forever in OPs Division), highlighted the wide range of skill development initiatives being run for women across Kargil.
“We are conducting training programs in computer literacy, knitting, stitching, food processing and now soap making. The women have not only completed these training with distinction but are producing market-ready goods that can compete nationally and globally,” she said.
Krishnan also emphasized the Indian Army’s broader role in outreach and development, noting that their initiatives are being extended to remote schools and villages to meet the real needs of the people.
The exhibition served as a powerful reminder that the Indian Army’s mission extends beyond defense—playing a vital role in nation-building, especially in empowering women and encouraging local entrepreneurship in the border regions of Ladakh—(KNO)