Jammu, March 2025 — Gurdeep Singh Dhaliwal, Chairman of the Salon Owners Welfare Association (SOWA International), visited Jammu to address challenges faced by salon owners. The meeting, held at MJ Color Trends Makeup Studio and Vihaan Makeover Studio, highlighted financial aid and skill development opportunities through the PM Vishwakarma Scheme.
A Platform for Dialogue and Solutions
Salon owners voiced their concerns, with MJ Sunny, owner of MJ Color Trends Makeup Studio and SOWA International’s State Coordinator for J&K, emphasizing the need for direct engagement.
“Our objective is to apprise the Chairman of our daily challenges. With his guidance, we aim to navigate these issues effectively,” he stated.
Leveraging the PM Vishwakarma Scheme
The PM Vishwakarma Scheme provides:
- ₹15,000 for essential equipment.
- Skill Development Training with a ₹500 daily stipend.
- Collateral-free loans of up to ₹1 lakh (first tranche) and ₹2 lakh (second tranche) at 5% interest.
Chairman Dhaliwal urged salon professionals to utilize the scheme: “This initiative offers financial aid, skill upgrades, and tools. We must harness it fully.”
Employment Opportunities and Standardized Training
Deepika Raina, owner of Vihaan Makeover Studio, proposed integrating a job fair within the seminar to connect skilled youth with employers.
“This will bridge the gap between trained professionals and employment opportunities,” she said. Dhaliwal welcomed the idea, committing to inviting top companies and offering on-the-spot job placements.
Addressing unregistered training centers, MJ Sunny stressed the importance of standardization: “Unregistered centers produce unqualified professionals. We must enforce industry standards.” Dhaliwal assured steps to integrate them into SOWA’s framework.
Fostering Unity and Growth
The event concluded with a felicitation ceremony honoring Dhaliwal, attended by Pari Patel, Irfan Choudhary, Nargis Bano, Rakesh Badial, Jyoti Goyal, MJ Sunny, Ashish Raina, and Deepika Raina. The salon community’s unity and proactive efforts signal a promising future for the beauty and wellness industry in Jammu and Kashmir.
