Kupwara district in Jammu and Kashmir has been identified as one of the aspirational districts by the National Institution for Transforming India Aayog, which means that skill development, livelihood creation and self-employment are priority themes in the region. At the same time, a local unit of the Indian Army, the Kupwara Terriers, has been active in community-engagement initiatives, some of which tie into skill-development and empowerment of youth, especially in remote and under-served parts of the district. Below is a detailed look at how these two threads are working together, the key programmes, achievements, challenges and what could be next.
The “Skill Development” page of the District Administration notes mobile centres and traditional crafts are being used to empower rural girls and youth. These are aligned with National Skill Qualification Framework courses.
The “Handicraft” department in Kupwara reports that over 3,000 artisans are associated with Crewel and Chain-stitch craft in the district, contributing to economic activity.
The district launched a programme called “Skill Mission-Hunarmand Kupwara” under the aspirational district programme. About 600 candidates were enrolled across 18 different courses such as digital literacy, Sozni embroidery, masonry and concreting, solar power technician, tailoring, mobile repairing etc. In July 2024, a 3-day skill development training for 45 silk farmers in Kupwara was organised. This shows the skill-agenda is not just crafts but also agro/allied sectors.
The organisation “Kupwara Terriers” organised a drawing competition and screening event in Feb 2021 for deaf and mute youth in the district, and committed to introduce special skill-development programmes for them. The Kupwara Terriers organised the annual meet in June 2025 for women associated with Skill Development Centres supported by the Army. The event included demonstrations in cutting & tailoring and hand embroidery and awareness about schemes.
These initiatives by the Kupwara Terriers indicate a bridging role: reaching marginalised youth, linking skill training with empowerment. The mobile centres for traditional crafts in Kupwara have enabled young women to earn incomes of up to 10,000 per month after the ~11-month courses in some cases.
The handicraft sector in Kupwara is being scaled. The Handicraft Dept lists multiple training centres, stipend support, formation of cooperatives, marketing support, etc. With the Kupwara Terriers involvement, there is evidence of reaching vulnerable groups and creating visibility for skill programs in remote zones.
Though many courses are running, remote geography, lack of infrastructure and perhaps visibility of after-training linkages remain issues. For example, skill training in sericulture indicates attempts to diversify but sustaining incomes may be challenging. Ensuring placement or self-employment post-training is always tricky, certification, market access, credit linkage need to be robust.
For the most marginalised, access to the skill-programme still depends on outreach and support which the Terriers are helping, but scale may need further enhancement. In district like Kupwara, which has had developmental challenges including remoteness and being an aspirational district, skill development offers a way to convert local human resource into livelihoods rather than just rely on out-migration or limited jobs.
The inclusion of traditional crafts ties in cultural heritage with modern livelihood opportunities- preserving craft while creating income Military-community partnerships add social capital: trust, access in remote areas, visibility and participation of women and marginal youth. Empowering women and youth via skills helps wider socio-economic goals reducing dependency, enabling entrepreneurship and strengthening local economies.
Kupwara’s skill development journey is an encouraging story of aligning government programmes, craft heritage, youth empowerment and civil-military community partnership. While much has been done, the real test lies in making these training programmes translate into sustainable livelihoods and economic stability for youth in the district – especially those from the most remote and marginalised communities. The involvement of Kupwara Terriers adds a unique dimension of local outreach, trust and social integration, which if leveraged well, can make a tangible difference in lives.
