Kupwara: A unique women-led initiative in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district is combining traditional Kashmiri craftsmanship with national pride while creating employment opportunities for local women.
The Indian Army has been playing a significant role in empowering women in North Kashmir through the Flag Women of Kupwara (FLWOK) initiative, which combines traditional Kashmiri craftsmanship with women’s economic empowerment and national pride.
Established around April 2022 as a cooperative society with the support and promotion of the Indian Army, FLWOK has today expanded to 12 Skill Development Centres across Kupwara, providing employment opportunities to around 140 women.
The initiative is particularly known for producing handmade Indian National Flags featuring hand-stitched and crewel-embroidered Ashoka Chakras. Using traditional Kashmiri embroidery techniques, the women give the Tricolour a distinctive handmade identity while preserving the region’s rich craft heritage.
During the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign, women from a small hamlet in Kupwara worked tirelessly to prepare these special handmade flags, which were supplied for display in homes and offices across different parts of the country.
For the women involved, making the National Flag has become more than a livelihood opportunity. It has given them a deep sense of pride and honour as their traditional skills are being used to create a symbol of national unity and identity.
The women have expressed their gratitude to the Indian Army for supporting the establishment of the centre and providing essential resources, including stitching machines, raw materials and other equipment. The assistance enabled them to transform their traditional skills into meaningful livelihood opportunities.
The centre has also successfully undertaken large-scale orders. On one occasion, the women received an order for around 4500 National Flags, which they completed collectively and supplied to different parts of the country.
Besides National Flags, FLWOK is also engaged in producing Kashmiri hand-embroidered linens, helping preserve and promote the region’s traditional craftsmanship.
The Flag Women of Kupwara initiative reflects how sustained support and skill development can help women achieve economic independence and dignity. Every handmade Tricolour produced by these women carries not only the colours of the nation but also the story of their hard work, confidence, patriotism and aspirations for a brighter future.
