State Awardee Razia Sultan- a torchbearer for unemployed youth

KUPWARA : It is a universal fact that every person residing on this earth has the desire to be a successful person. However, nothing can stop one to go ahead and touch the sky, if it possesses perseverance and determination.

A young girl from North Kashmir border district Kupwara, Raziya Sultan aimed high for her life. After climbing different steps of the educational ladder, she never hope for Government Service, instead she developed interest in handicraft activities.

Her disposition towards Handicrafts began almost nine years back. “It was year 2013, when Handicraft Department, Kupwara established a Crewel Centre at my native village Trehgam and i among other girls registered for the Crewel training Course against a monthly stepend of Rupees 500″, said Razia Sultan, daughter of Mohammad Sultan Shiekh of historic town, Trehgam.

The training course had a duration of one year, but because of good response from the trainees, the course was extended for two more years as Advanced Training Course in Crewel with increase of Rs.200, that is Rs 700 per month to each trainee, said Razia adding that the course concluded in the year 2016.

The love for craft was the passion of the girl. She never thought to left half way, as others do; instead she contacted Rahat Memorial Society, an NGO in the same town where she was offered a job.

” I was engaged as Instructor, Crewl Master, and my salary was fixed at Rs.2000 per month”, said Raziya, adding that for her the amount of Rs.2000 in 2017 meant a lot. She was happy not because she was able to earn some money but more because she became a respectable teacher of the craft that she loved.

Raziya worked in the Society till March 2021, following the closure of Society.

This time Razia’s will power and strength to hold up any situation was very high. She without loosing any time started her own venture, connecting some other girls with the Crewel making.

The unflinching character of the Razia Sultan to chase the target was recognized by the department of Handicrafts and the Razia became State Award winner in the Crewel making during 2021.

“Since the inception of the Handicrafts Department, no artisan was able to qualify for a State Award in any craft. The dream came true when an orphan girl namely Miss Razia Sultan daughter of Late Mohd Sultan Sheikh, resident of Trehgam won the State Award 2018 in Crewel Craft and stood 3rd position throughout the UT of J&K. The Awardee has been given Certificate of Excellence with a cash prize of Rs. 0.20 lakh in the year 2021”, informed Assistant Director Handicrafts, Kupwara, Mohammad Sadeeq Lone, adding that the girl has bought laurels for herself as well as district Kupwara.

The A D Handicrafts said that in order to further develop the craft sector in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the Government has announced the Karkhandar Scheme. “The scheme has been taken up on a pilot basis by the Department of Handicrafts and Handloom, Kashmir. It is a landmark decision that will give a fresh lease of life to the craft industry of UT and especially to the languishing crafts.” he added.

The state awardee , Razia Sultan was given one project under the Karkhandar Scheme with financial assistance to carry forward her dream business, Handicraft, informed the AD.

Confirming the handholding support of the Department of Handicrafts, Kupwara, Miss Razia said that she started working under the Karkhandar Scheme from October 2021, with 10 girls working in the Crewel Centre. All the girls are getting a monthly stepend of Rs.2000 each while Razia gets Rs.20000 per month.

Razia Sultan said that she has been getting all logistic support from the Government through Handicrafts Department Kupwara and with that help she made 85 meter crewel cloth during the last 5 months and 35 meter more are under crewel work.

Besides, she designed Crewel work of 36 cushions. She said that during the last 5 months she got a revenue of Rs.60000 for her Crewel work.

Razia said that she has given Crewel training to her younger sister Miss Aasiya Sultan, apart from other girls, who is also working neck to neck with her to make the life sustainable without the shadow of father.

The story of Razia Sultan is not only a tale of how she is earning livelihood for herself, but it is an inspiring story for thousands of those people, especially educated unemployed youth, who have commitment with their ability and don’t spoil their youth for the mere sake of earning white color job.