 Singing songs while working in the lush green fields in Sopore. These Kashmiri women are hoping for a good harvest and prosperity to come their way this season. They are happy and have every reason to smile. Women in Jammu and Kashmir have indeed come a long way, from working in these fields to working in 20 FM radio stations. Out from the confines of their homes to jobs with call centres, a big leap from kitchens to careers in security forces. Today, they are taking firm and steady strides forward and have indeed come a long way. The success of these efforts is reflected in the fact that women in Jammu and Kashmir have been empowered and are an integral part of decision making process. The state has the largest number of women councillors, thanks to 33% reservation for women in the civic bodies. Not only in administration, but they are also proving their middle as law makers. Jammu and Kashmir now has its first woman advocate general, Seema Khajuria. The security force is another male bastion that is fast crumbling and there is a large presence of women in the central and state security units. The state has also produced a number of successful women entrepreneurs. My shrooming women polytechnics provide vocational training and have served as catalysts in this process of change, instilling enterprise and the spirit of entrepreneurship into these women who are brimming with confidence today. These centres provide both conventional and non-conventional avenues of self employment to these women. Boutiques like these are favourite among women as the business requires minimum investment. These designers trained in polytechnics in Kashmir can give the best in the industry a run for their money. Women entrepreneurs of JNK are not only tapping conventional business avenues but are also innovating, improvising and experimenting in non-traditional trades like floriculture. This is Rubina, who has done a course in floriculture from the State-run Entrepreneurship Development Institute. Last year, she won the Entrepreneur of the Year award from the JNK Business Council. The graph of female education in Kashmir is at par with the most progressive states in the country and the enthusiasm for quality education among girls is rising by the day. Kashmir has not remained untouched by the economic and IT boom taking place in the country. Women in JNK work in these BPO's and IT firms 24-7 in large numbers and a number of training institutes have come up to provide them the necessary know-how. Meet Sarah, the most popular radio jockey in Kashmir working with the valley's first private radio channel. Today there are at least five privately run news channels and nearly 200 newspapers that are published from the valley itself where women work as TV anchors, journalists and researchers. Well who says cricket is a man's game? Women of Kashmir are slowly making inroads here as well. Meet Sakina Achhtar who has played at the national level and is the only professional cricket coach of the valley who has obtained training from the National Institute of Sports. Sakina has twin feathers in her cap today as she trains both women and yes, men too in cricket. Kashmir has been striving to secure gender justice for some time now and the success of its efforts is visible in all walks of life. JNK's Kashmiri women have broken all fetters of conservatism and have chosen to take destiny in their own hands.