Women-Led Café Opens at Mini Secretariat Bandipora Under JKNRLM In a significant boost to women’s empowerment and rural livelihoods, a group of women under the Jammu & Kashmir National Rural Livelihoods Mission (JKNRLM), popularly known as UMEED, have opened a cafeteria inside the Mini Secretariat in Bandipora. The café, entirely managed and operated by members of a Self-Help Group (SHG) from Bandipora, is offering a variety of food items and beverages, including tea, snacks and traditional dishes. The initiative has brought relief to hundreds of employees and visitors who frequent the Mini Secretariat for official work. Until now, they had to walk nearly half a kilometre outside the complex to get a cup of tea or refreshments. Officials said the cafeteria was established following repeated public demand for an in-house facility within the Secretariat premises. Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Indu Kanwal Chib, said the cafeteria is completely run by women from a Self-Help Group under the JKNRLM scheme. She added that the initiative reflects the administration’s commitment to strengthening women-led enterprises and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities at the grassroots level. Under the UMEED scheme, several women associated with Self-Help Groups in the district have witnessed significant improvements in their income and living standards over the past year. The new café not only provides financial independence to the women involved but also sets an example of how community-based initiatives can address local needs while empowering women socially and economically. Employees at the Mini Secretariat have welcomed the move, calling it both convenient and inspiring.