Women's Cooperative Expands Membership Across Ladakh Region

A women-owned cooperative in Ladakh, known as Looms of Ladakh, expanded its membership to include areas in Leh and Kargil on July 6, 2026. The cooperative transforms traditional wool craftsmanship, using raw Pashmina and yak wool, into a source of economic independence for Ladakhi women. The initiative was started as “Project Laksal” by IAS officer G Prasanna Ramaswamy.

The cooperative was designed to shift value creation back to local artisans, who previously earned minimal income while middlemen profited significantly. This expansion increases the scope of the cooperative’s efforts to empower women through their generational craft.