■ Aasif Ganaie
Pulwama: Three young girls from south Kashmir have started an online business venture, TabsKart with the aim to provide quality medicine at people’s doorsteps while realizing the dream of being their own boss.
Initiated by Shehpara Hassan, Nazia Hassan from Anantnag and Aabida Farooq from Pulwama, TabsKart Private Limited started operations in May 2018 from Pulwama.
“This is Kashmir’s first online business related to medicines. It’s a positive development as it empowers the customers to decide their purchase,” says Shehpara Hassan, CEO of the startup.
Nazia Hassan, MD of TabsKart says, “We were just three girls when we started. Today, we have more than ten employees who mostly work as delivery boys.”
“Our office is presently in Pulwama only but we are receiving orders from all over the country and from abroad as well,” says Aabida Farooq, Accountant of the startup.
Though Shehpara and Nazia spoke highly of their family as far as the support for this business venture is concerned, Aabida said that her parents initially discouraged her and it was her brother who stood up for her.
“Unfortunately, I lost my dad and he didn’t receive medicines on time due to unavailability in the local market. This was a motivating force for this initiative of delivering medicines to people’s doorsteps on time,” says Shehpara.
She further said, “We deliver quality medicines which a customer/patient can also check on our website.”
It is pertinent to mention that TabsKart deals with self-care products, allopathic and ayurvedic medicines.
Shehpara, however, rues that fact that turmoil and consequent internet shutdowns are playing spoilsport for such startups. “We do face certain hardships but we take voice call based orders also and try to deliver orders within the shortest possible time,” she says.
TabsKart has a mobile application also through which medicines can be ordered simply by registering and uploading the prescription. Besides, they have a dedicated number for support via WhatsApp.
“We are planning to expand and our next office will hopefully open soon in Anantnag,” says Shehpara.