by Asiya Akhter
For young women in Kashmir, a government job remains the first career choice. At the same time, AI workshops, online courses and digital skill programmes are becoming more common across Kashmir. Some students are learning how to use AI tools, while entrepreneurs are using digital platforms to reach customers beyond their local markets. These developments are creating new career options alongside traditional ones.
AI is no longer limited to technology companies or software engineers. Teachers use it to prepare classroom material, journalists use it for research, entrepreneurs use it to promote their businesses and freelance writers use it to organise their work. As AI becomes part of everyday professions, knowing how to use these tools is becoming an increasingly valuable skill. The future economy will not depend only on those who create technology but also on those who know how to use it effectively.
Recognising this shift, the Government of India launched the India AI Mission to prepare the country for an economy where AI supports innovation, entrepreneurship, education and public services. The National Commission for Women’s Yashoda AI Abhiyan reflects the same thinking. It introduces women to AI not as a complex technology; it is a practical skill that can support learning, entrepreneurship and employment. Across several states, women are being trained to use AI for business development, digital marketing and skill enhancement. These initiatives recognise an important reality: if women are left behind in the AI era, they risk being left behind in tomorrow’s economy as well.
Kashmir has witnessed a steady rise in women’s education over the past decade, but employment opportunities have not grown at the same pace. Many talented young women are unable to relocate outside the region for work. Today, digital technologies and AI-powered tools are beginning to change that equation. A woman in Baramulla, Kupwara or Anantnag can now attend online courses, work with clients remotely or sell products through digital platforms without relocating.
Kashmir already has examples of women using technology to solve local problems. Mehvish Mushtaq, the first Kashmiri woman to develop an Android application, created Dial Kashmir after recognising how difficult it was for people to access contact details of essential services. It addressed a problem familiar to many Kashmiris and offered a practical solution through technology.
That spirit is now finding new direction through initiatives like The Women Empowerment, Artificial Intelligence (WE-AI) Club, founded by Taleyn Tatheer Khan and co-founded by Aiza Naveed Shah. Through workshops and practical sessions, the WE-AI Club is introducing school and college students to Artificial Intelligence. These sessions allow students to experiment with AI tools, ask questions and understand how the technology can be used in different professions. For many participants, it is their first structured exposure to AI outside the classroom.
The opportunities created by technology are not limited to coding or software development. Award-winning photojournalist Masrat Zahra has used digital platforms to take stories from Kashmir to international audiences. Her work shows how journalists today can publish, share and reach readers far beyond their immediate surroundings through digital platforms. AI tools are now becoming part of this work by assisting with research, translation and content organisation. It is opening new possibilities for people from diverse educational backgrounds.
Digital platforms have made it easier for artisans to reach customers beyond local markets. Many women involved in Pashmina, Sozni embroidery and Papier-mache already use smartphones to receive orders, share photographs of their products and connect with buyers. AI-powered tools become more accessible; they can also help prepare product descriptions and manage online marketing.
At the same time, digital devices are not always affordable, and opportunities for practical AI training are still limited. Unless these gaps are reduced, many young women will find it harder to benefit from the same digital opportunities as those living in better-connected areas.
The experiences of Mehvish Mushtaq, Taleyn Taheer Khan, Aiza Naveed Shah and Masrat Zahra reflect different aspects of Kashmir’s changing digital landscape. Their work spans technology, education and journalism, highlighting how digital tools are becoming part of professional opportunities for women across different sectors.
The India AI Mission is creating new opportunities through investments in AI infrastructure, innovation and skill development. For young women in Kashmir, the real impact will depend on how widely these opportunities are accessed through education, training and digital employment. Across the country, AI is gradually becoming part of classrooms, workplaces and businesses. As these opportunities expand through the India AI Mission, more young women in Kashmir can access the skills and digital platforms needed to participate in India’s growing AI-driven economy.
The author can be mailed at bintez566@gmail.com
