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KASHMIR

Dy. Director Information PR Kashmir grieved on the demise of Intl. Athlete, Jabeena Akhter of Treran Tangmarg

SRINAGAR, MARCH 11: The Deputy Director Information PR Kashmir, Bilal Mukhtar Dar expressed grief and sorrow on the demise of Jabeena Akhtar, an international athlete from Treran Tangmarg of Baramulla district.

Bilal Mukhtar prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul and courage to the bereaved family especially to her husband Khursheed Ahmad to bear this irreparable loss.

He said she was courageous, talented and a master in her profession who played an important role to empower Kashmiri girls and bring up the hidden sportsmanship in them. She was an inspiration to Kashmiri girls, through her endeavours, to chase their dreams, he added.

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BUSINESS

Modern Yinder spins new hopes for Kashmir Pashmina, women spinners

Nasir Yousufi

SRINAGAR: In a small room of a single-storied house, a 45-year-old single mother, Nargis who lives with her two children in Chanpora here seems jubilant as she places the much anticipated table-sized thread spinning machine in the corner of her room.
Unable to believe that the spinning wheel she had thrown away nine years back has returned to her house -in a new avatar with a promise of economic prosperity.
A modern spinning wheel, modern charkha or modern yinder as called in the local parlance is the latest innovation in Valley’s Pashmina industry that has off late rejuvenated the faith of Pashmina wool spinners in the craft.
The world-famed Pashmina shawls have been a hallmark of Kashmir handicrafts. And the role of women in powering this craft through their unmatched spinning skills is an open secret.
Many Kashmiri women particularly from Srinagar households have been spinning Pashmina and Shahtosh for ages. There are hundreds of legends from yore eulogizing the valor of women, who raised their families from income made from spinning yarn on charkha.

They say as lifestyles shift, so does the household expenditures. By at the turnaround of this millennium, most of these Pashmina wool spinners either hanged these charkhas over attic or send them to scrap for sitting on them meant meager returns. Like Nargis, most of such weavers had shifted to other works more profitable than the traditional spinning of Pashmina wool.
But then, the spinning craft is back with a bang.

And it’s essentially thanks to the group of scientists at the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Agricultural Sciences and Technology or SKUAST Kashmir, who developed the modern charkha, which has not only rejuvenated the hopes of spinners but the women who are using it claim to earn two to three hundred percent more than what they usually used to earn from traditional yinder.
“With the increased cost of living, to meet the two ends from a meager earning of Rs 30-40 per day from the age old yinder was impractical. So I had to shift from kataen kaem or hand spinning of yarn to some other feasible work almost thirteen years back,” said Arifa Bilal, a 45-year-old Pashmina wool spinner from old City of Srinagar. “But deep in my heart, I always missed that old yinder as the wheel had helped my mother… Fortunately, I came to know about its new avatar, got few days of training in handling this wheel and thanks to Almighty, I am able to earn about Rs 250 to 300 a day now,” added Arifa while sitting beside her charkha.
Introduced by SKUAST-K in 2022, the Modern Yinder is a pedal driven charkha fitted on the table. The pedal driven charkha is much easier to operate than the older wooden ‘yinder’ and has almost doubled the output for these women spinners.

Dr Sarfaraz Ahmad, who was a part of SKUAST-K team that innovated the novel yinder said that the modern charkha has health benefits as well. “Earlier the women used to sit behind the traditional yinder but the modern charkha provides her comfort of sitting on a chair while spinning the wheel”, he told the Valley Observer.
Seconding Dr Ahmad, Sameena Akhtar, a newlywed woman from Srinagar said that given the design of modern yinder, she is able to operate it on ease despite “backache and disc issues.”
The redesigned charkha has been a game changer. It is attracting hundreds of women towards the trade. Many women who had left the spinning have resumed and earn more. A training centre run by a Pashmina dealer in Srinagar has trained hundreds of women so far in operating pedal driven new charkha.
“This pedal driven charkha has helped in increasing the output of hand spun Pashmina Yarn. Together at this centre, we have trained almost 200 women including young girls in operating the novel yinder,” said Ishfaq Qadri who runs the centre at his Me & K Pashmina House in downtown Srinagar. Qadri who is known for selling famed Pashmina Shawls to different parts of the world has so far distributed more than 40 modern charkha’s free of cost among the spinning community.
“Such technological interventions are definitely helpful in increasing both the produce as well as the income of weavers, which forms an essential ingredient in the revival of Pashmina industry in the valley,” he added.
Experts believe that the development is the beginning of an era of revival of once a hallmark of Kashmir- the hand -woven Pashmina shawl business.
Boosting the morale of hand woven Pashmina wool spinners in the valley, Government has also fixed the minimum selling price for one knot at Rs 2.5, which has given a further push to once the mainstay craft of women folk mainly from downtown Srinagar.
According to Mahmood Ahmad Shah, Director Handicrafts & Handlooms Department Kashmir, the craftswomen spinning hand woven Pashmina yarn play a pivotal role in the Pashmina craft and his department is trying its best to ensure the benefits of famed craft trickles down to every stakeholder.
As for the single mother Nargis, she spins the modern charkha to earn her livelihood like never before!

Categories
SPORTS

PSPS Govt PG College for Women organises Gatka Intra-Mural competition

JAMMU: An Intra-mural Gatka competition was today organised in Women College Gandhi Nagar, Jammu with great enthusiasm. The Farri Shoti team and individual events were organised.

The College Principal, Minu Mahajan was the chief Guest. Dr. Roopali Slathia welcomed the chief guest and sports committee of the college. In the team event, Team Tarandeep Kour, Manleen Kour and Harsimranjeet Kour scored 55 points and stood third, Team Haramandeep Kour, Avneet Kour and Amandeep Kour scored 56 points, stood second and Team Joyleen Kour, Ravneet Kour, Harsheen Kour and Suhana Sharma scored 65 points, stood First.

In Individual events, Harsheen Kour scored 60 points and ended up as Runner-up and Ravneet Kour scored 62 points and emerged as winner.

Principal Prof. Minu Mahajan congratulated the players, officials and sports committee for organising the event.  She also felicitated the winners with the medals and officials with mementos.

Prof Rupinder Kour, Prof. Renu Sharma, Prof. Vijender Kumar, Prof. Malti Rajput, Prof. Jyoti Dutta, Prof. Nidhi Suri, Prof. Pooja Charak, Prof. Varun Sharma, Prof. Rohit Gupta, Prof. Prof. Paramjeet Singh, Prof. Priyanka, Prof Eisha Gohil and Dr. Roopali Slathia and Physical Director of the college were also present during the event. The match was officiated by Ravinder Singh, Sarleen Kour, Varundeep Singh and Jagjoot Singh.

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SPORTS

Police felicitates student for securing Gold Medal in Martial Art Championship in Baramulla

Baramulla: Police in Baramulla have facilitated a student for securing Gold Medal in Martial Art Championship held in Kathmandu Nepal.

The event was organised at District Police Headquarters Baramulla, where SSP Baramulla Shri Amod Ashok Nagpure-IPS felicitated a 6th standard student of St. Joseph’s Higher Secondary School Baramulla namely Saaed Manzoor for securing Gold Medal in 7th South Asian Sqay Martial Art Championship held in Kathmandu Nepal.

On the occasion, SSP Baramulla congratulated the achiever for making the feat and hoped that this achievement would inspire other youth also in engaging them in sports activities. He also stated that the sports play an important role in the overall personality development of an individual and is important for channelization of youth energy to keep them away from negative forces.  Appreciating his role, he was felicitated with appreciation letter presented by SSP Baramulla.

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SPORTS

Fit India Movement Ambassador, International Wushu Player call on Lt Governor

JAMMU: Sh Danish Manzoor, Indian Taekwondo Team Athlete and Fit India Movement Ambassador called on Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhavan here today.

Sh Danish Manzoor accompanied by his coach Sh Atul Pangotra expressed gratitude to the Lt Governor for the unprecedented support and assistance being provided to the sportspersons of Jammu Kashmir. Later, Sh Abhishek Jamwal, International Wushu Player also met the Lt Governor.

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SPORTS

District level open Kabaddi Championship 2022-23 commences at Udhampur

UDHAMPUR: Two day District Level open Kabaddi Championship for men and women was today organized by Kabaddi Association District Udhampur under the aegis of J&K Sports Council here at Indoor Complex Subhash Stadium.

Deputy Commissioner, Krittika Jyotsna was the chief guest while Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mohammad Syed Khan and Additional Sp Anwal –Ul-Haq were the special guests on the occasion.

At the outset, President District Kabaddi Association, Sheikh Tanveer Ahmed welcomed the chief guest and briefed about the championship.

Around 300 men and women from across District Udhampur are participating in the championship.

While speaking on the occasion, the DC extended her best wishes to the participants for their best performance in the championship. The chief guest complimented the organizers and added that holding of such championships was a step forward to promote budding players of the District and to encourage the sports culture for a healthy society. The DC lauded the initiative taken by organizers to build up morale and inculcate the spirit of sports in the participants. After declaring the championship open, the DC also interacted  with the participants  and urged  the youth  to actively participate  in  the sports  activities  for their all round  development.

Among others, Naveen Sharma, Manager, Sports Council Subash Stadium Udhampur, Vikram Singh Slathia, Councillor ward number-6  and other representatives and officials of Sports department were present.

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SPORTS

Khelo India Winter Games concludes at Gulmarg; Nisith Pramanik distributes medals among winners

J&K transitioned into new era of prosperity, J&K players making nation proud: MoS J&K tops medal tally, bagging 26 Gold, 25 Silver, 25 Bronze medals

GULMARG: Five days National Event of 3rd edition of Khelo India concluded today at Gulmarg with a grand function attended by over two thousand participants including players, tourists and officials of different departments.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs and Youth Affairs & Sports, Nisith Pramanik, was the chief guest on the occasion of the concluding ceremony.

Joint Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Prem Kumar Jha; Secretary Youth Services & Sports and Tourism, Sarmad Hafeez; Secretary J&K Sports Council Nuzhat Gul; CEO, Gulmarg Development Authority besides Major General RK Sing and President Winter Games Rouf Trumboo, Officers of line departments, players and tourists were present on the occasion

Speaking on the occasion, the Nisith Pramanik remarked that the 3rd Khelo India Winter Games held at Gulmarg was a major event compared to the previous events. He said that the next event would be even bigger event which would be compared with other international events.

He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Anurag Thakur and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for the developing sports infrastructure in J&K which helps youth to excel in different sports.

Union Minister said that players such as Sarfaraz Ahmad and Arif Khan who played in the winter Olympics made our nation proud.

“In the last two years the government developed Indoor Stadium in every district of Jammu and Kashmir besides play grounds in every panchayat’, he said and underlined that J&K has transitioned into a new era of prosperity.

While distributing medals among the winners of Junior Girls Snow Shoe sport and Sprint boys, Nisith Pramanik expressed pleasure over the exemplary performance of J&K players who bagged gold in these competitions.

He thanked officials of various departments associated with Khelo India winter games including J&K Sports Council, Tourism department, Gulmarg Development Authority, Gulmarg Cable Car Corporation, hoteliers and Winter Games Association for smooth and successful organisation of the entire event.

Sarmad Hafeez while speaking on the occasion thanked GoI for awarding the 3rd Khelo India winter games and termed the five days programme as a snow festival in wonder land of Gulmarg and said that Gulmarg is a capital of winter sports of the country.

While presenting vote of thanks, Nuzhat Gul expressed gratitude to Union Minister Anurag Thakur and Lieutenant Governor for their support in organising the huge event and also thanked Chief Guest of the function besides officers of line departments for their cooperation in organising the national event and concluding it successfully.

J&K topped the medal tally, bagging 26 Gold medals, 25 silver medals, 25 Bronze medals followed by Maharashtra with 13 gold, 8 silver and 6 bronze medals. The third position was achieved by Himachal Pradesh 10 Gold, 14 Silver and 7 Bronze while Army scored 10 gold, 10 silver and 9 bronze medals.

The medals received by Haryana are 8,10,13, Ladakh 7,3,7, Uttrakhand 6,6,4, Tamil Nadu 6,5,3, Karnataka 5,2,7, Gujarat 4,1,1, Delhi 3,3,6, ITBP 2,2,3, Telangana 2,1,3, HAWS 2,1,1, AIPSCB 1,0,0 and Kerala 1,0,0.

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SPORTS

DIG NKR Baramulla organises Skiing course for students in Gulmarg

GULMARG: Continuing with its successful initiatives of organising sports events & to channelise youth energy, North Kashmir Range Police today launched Skiing Course  at Gulmarg Baramulla.

 SSP Baramulla Shri Amod Ashok Nagpure-IPS who was the chief guest inaugurated the skiing course. The course is organized by North Kashmir Range Police under its Civic Action Programme in which children mostly wards of Police Martyrs are participating.

 SSP Baramulla thanked Range Police Hqrs Baramulla for organizing this event and said that it has always been the effort of J&K police to provide better platform to the youth interested in sports. He said that under this initiative, a number of events have been organized successfully.

SSP Baramulla said youth have great energy and potential to shape a better world and added that our youth is contributing to J&K’s peace mission by participating in different positive activities. He said that we have to continue our peace efforts so that long-lasting peace is achieved in Jammu and Kashmir.

SSP Baramulla Shri Amod Ashok Nagpure-IPS  thanked the invitees, SO to DIG NKR Baramulla, other police officers, personnel, participants and the people for making the inauguration successful.

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SPORTS

Winter Youth and Sports Festival concludes in Budgam Kashmir Elite club won the Volleyball tournament

Budgam: Winter Youth and Sports festival which was organised by police in Budgam under J&K Police Civic Action Programme culminated today at District Police Lines ground Budgam. Earlier SSP Budgam organised the Taekwondo Championship, Open Badminton Tournament, and Open Painting Competitions. These events attracted hundreds of sportsmen and local people with colourful performances by youth and artists.

The Budgam Winter Volleyball tournament’s final was played between the Young Spikers Nasrullahpora and Kashmir Elite Club Budgam at District Police Lines ground Budgam. Kashmir elite won the match 2:1. Sixteen (16) teams from across the district participated in the tournament.

On the occasion, SSP Budgam Shri Tahir Gilani-JKPS distributed the trophies and mementoes among the participants. The event was also attended by DySP DAR DPL Shri Owaise Rashid-JKPS, DySP (P) Shri Faisal Arif Rishu-JKPS and other senior officers of Budgam Police.

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SPORTS

Police inaugurates Cricket Tournament-2023 in Kulgam

Kulgam: Police in Kulgam inaugurated ‘Martyr Shri Aman Kumar Thakur Memorial Cricket Tournament-2023’ in a cheerful and mesmerizing ambience at Mini Stadium Kulgam.

During the inaugural ceremony of the tournament, Martyr memorial parade was also held to commemorate the 4th anniversary of martyrdom of DySP Shri Aman Kumar Thakur at DPL Kulgam.

On the occasion, SSP Kulgam while highlighting the contribution of martyr in the line of duty towards the nation said that martyr DySP Aman Kumar Thakur was a brave officer who on the fateful day was personally leading his team from the front in coordination with the Army’s RR unit. While evacuating the injured sepoy Baldev who was hit by terrorist fire and was bleeding profusely. Without caring of his personal life and well-being, he evacuated Sepoy Baldev Ram to a safer location. However, in doing so, he was hit by the terrorist’ firing from concealed location and subsequently closed in on the terrorist and eliminated him in a fierce gunfight.

While inaugurating cricket tournament, SSP Kulgam exhorted that J&K Police will continue its efforts to promote peace and brotherhood in country and will eradicate the terrorists and terrorism from its roots from the soil of the country.

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