The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Valley gets colder, Srinagar shivers at minus 3°C Tribune News Service Srinagar, January 12 The Kashmir valley recorded a cold night as the mercury fell several degrees below zero. The day temperature in Srinagar city rose to 4.3°C while the mercury overnight dropped to -3°C, an official of the state meteorological department said. The state weather department, in its forecast bulletin, said the weather in the coming days is likely to remain dry and cold. The official said the minimum temperature in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam resort settled at -12.4°C while the maximum temperature recorded was 1.4°C, making it the coldest place in the Valley. In north Kashmir’s Gulmarg resort, the night temperature fell to -10.8°C. In Qazigund town of south Kashmir, the mercury dropped to -7.6°C overnight. The minimum temperature in north Kashmir’s Kupwara town was recorded at -4.0°C. In Leh town of the Ladakh region, the mercury fell to -18.9°C while the maximum temperature was recorded at -1.5°C, the official said. In Kargil district, the night temperature fell to -16.6°C while the maximum temperature recorded was -4°C.
	Snow attracts hundreds to Patnitop Our Correspondent Patnitop (Udhampur), Jan 12 Hundreds of tourists have flocked to Patnitop to enjoy snow. The weekend rush has increased because of three holidays. People from various parts of the Jammu region have reached Patnitop. “Our hotels are packed since Saturday night and we expect the rush to continue till Tuesday,” said Koushal Sharma president of the Hotel and Restaurant Association, Patnitop. “Although snow is a great attraction for tourists, it would have been better if the Tourism Department would have organised a month-long winter carnival here,” Sharma said. “Almost all our alpine huts are booked on account of holidays. We have electronic blankets, blowers and other heating arrangements well in place in all our huts to take care of our guests,” said manager, Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation, Patnitop. “We had earlier planned to visit Patnitop and enjoy snow on the eve of New Year but highway blockade disrupted our plans and now we are here enjoying with our friends. We have been told that the snow on the Nathatop-Sanasar road has been cleared by snow-cutting machines and we will go to see snow at Nathatop on Monday,” said a tourist.
	Governor greets people Jammu, January 12 Governor NN Vohra has extended greetings to the people on the occasion of Lohri and Makar Sankranti. In his message of greetings, the Governor observed that these two festivals were a tribute to the bounties of nature and marked the change in weather to spring. The Governor prayed for the well-being and happiness of the people and wished that the festivals would bring sustained peace and prosperity in the state. — TNS
	on the frontlinei Is this called coalition? arun josh If the permutation and combination of numbers is the route to get into power without having any ideological commitment, what is the point of having a coalition? The National Conference (NC) and the Congress joined hands in 2008 to come to power in January 2009 because they had the numbers to cobble together a government. Today, the two parties are talking more like opponents rather than as allies. Sometimes, their attacks on each other are worse than those of opposition parties. In January 2014, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah declared that he would have new administrative units (NAUs) as long as he is in the chair. The Congress counters this by saying it is 'mentally prepared' to face any situation. 'No compromise' is the mantra of the two parties at a time when a Cabinet subcommittee is visiting one district after another to find how many NAUs are to be set up and when. Going by behind-the-scenes manoeuvring, it is obvious that the Congress will not submit to any pressure tactics of the NC. It has kept its high command briefed about the developments and also about the pros and cons of any compromise with the NC on the issue of having NAUs like tehsils and naibats in the state. The NC is equally determined to have its way on the issue. Politically, this can mean two things. First, the two parties are serious about what they are saying and nurturing their respective vote banks. Secondly, may be it is simply a posturing ahead of parliamentary and Assembly polls. In either case, it is hurting governance and the man on the street is the biggest sufferer. There is confusion in his mind as to who is talking for him or her. Bad blood has been created over the issue as people are clashing to lay their claim on NAUs. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Congress coalition had ended on a bloody note and the state stood divided on communal and regional lines. The wounds of 2008 are fresh in the minds of the people. If that scene is to recur in 2014, there is a need to look for some alternative in J&K, the state that is under close watch internationally. J&K is not like Delhi or any other state of the country. It is different; here, political stability is a must. During the Congress-PDP coalition (2002-2008), there was a common minimum programme, but that was implemented in a partisan manner. The PDP did what it had promised and the Congress did what it felt was best for it. Then Congress CM Ghulam Nabi Azad (2005-2008) went beyond the recommendations of the Wazir Commission report. He set up eight districts in the state, four each in the Valley and Jammu region, while the recommendations were only for four new districts, Bandipora Samba, Reasi and Kishtwar. Now, that has become the headache. The equality has created inequality. Omar knows it well that Valley's 46 Assembly seats will get divided between his party, the NC and the main opposition, the PDP, while the Congress will retain or may increase one or two seats to its 2008 tally of three. That does not help him in coming back to power. So, he wants to do something that will get him the maximum number of seats in the Valley and hilly areas of the Jammu region, leaving the Congress with no option but to support the NC in the future dispensation. He wants to kill two birds with one stone; snatch seats from the PDP and reduce Congress seats. That is a very clever political move. The Congress has read the blueprint of Omar's manifesto for the elections and is not going to let itself down by playing a second fiddle to the NC for the second consecutive time. The moot question, however, is that if the coalition partners are to play games with each other in this manner, what is the point of having such politically fragile alliances which hurt the people more than anything else.
	Cong activists want party to go it alone in polls, says Soz Tribune News Service Srinagar, January 12 With the growing tension between coalition partners Congress and the National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir becoming more and more evident, Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief Saifuddin Soz today said elections should be fought as per the “aspirations of the people” and not the “party compulsions”. “Elections should be fought keeping in view the inclination of the (party) workers and not based on the compulsions of the party,” the JKPCC chief told reporters here. Soz, however, was quick to add that a final decision on forming any pre-poll alliance with any party would be taken by the Congress high command. The senior leader was replying to question over the emerging tension between the Congress and the NC and whether the decision of the high command would be forced upon the Congress workers. Earlier, Soz reiterated that party workers were in favour of contesting elections on its own. “I am in touch with every block and halqa president and will put forward the truth before the Congress high command during my visit to New Delhi tomorrow,” he said. “The party workers want to cast votes with freedom and do not want any sort of confrontation,” Soz said, adding that elections should take place in a “friendly” manner. Pertinently, senior Congress leader and Union Minister for Health Ghulam Nabi Azad during his recent visit to the state too had pointed out that the party workers were not in favour of any pre-poll alliance. Regarding the difference between the NC and the Congress over the creation of new administrative units, Soz said: “A decision in this regard should not be implemented all of a sudden.” “It is an issue pertaining to the Cabinet and people should be satisfied with the decision taken by it,” he insisted. Meanwhile, on the issue of former Army chief General VK being summoned by the Legislative Council, Soz said: “The general has always been controversial and still is…I have not praised him but said he should have been given some respect…summoning him would (only) serve vicarious pleasure,” he added. The JKPCC had earlier reportedly said it was “undemocratic” to summon the former Army chief. Soz, though, maintained that summoning General (retired) VK Singh would serve no purpose. When asked whether he dreamt of becoming the Chief Minister of the state, the senior leader said: “I will do every job assigned to me. Everyone in politics has got ambitions…I have the desire and capacity.”
	Deadline for creation of new admn units not workable: Cong Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Jammu, January 12 A day after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said his government was committed to create new administrative units at the earliest, the Congress today pointed out that the “deadline set by the government was not workable”. Coalition partners Congress and the National Conference are on the collision course over the creation of new administrative units in Jammu and Kashmir. While the NC wants the decision on new administrative units be made as early as possible, the Congress is trying to defer it. Omar, while addressing a public meeting at Vijaypur on Saturday, had said his government was committed to the creation of new administrative units and it will be accomplished. A Cabinet sub-committee constituted for examining the creation these units was given a 15-day extension on December 31, 2013 to seek views of people. And for the last one week, it has been visiting different areas of the state and interacting with cross sections of the society. “Let the committee compile its report and place it before the Cabinet. The final decision on the recommendations will be taken only after thorough discussion,” Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief Saifuddin Soz told the Tribune. Congress leader and Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, who is heading the committee, however, said no deadline was set for the submission of the report. “Committee is doing its job. We have to accommodate aspirations of all the sections of the society. No deadline has been set for the submission of the report,” Tara Chand said. Meanwhile, amid reports of widening differences between the Congress and the NC over creation of new administrative units, Soz today rushed to New Delhi to appraise the high command about the recent development on this contentious issue. Sources said the JKPCC chief would brief party high command about the political ramification of the issue.
	Cong welcomes new entrants into party fold Tribune News Service Srinagar, January 12 People from different walks of life joined the Congress during a function held here today. J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Saifuddin Soz said those who joined the party were “prominent political personalities drawn from different political backgrounds”. Welcoming the new entrants, Soz said they were attracted to the party because of the party’s “service to the people of Jammu and Kashmir”. Those who joined the party included Mohammad Yaqoob Vakil, Abdul Gani Naseem, Manzoor Ahmad Zargar, Bashir Ahmad Malik, Shaheen Sultan Qazi Hakim-ud-Din, Hafiz Mohammad Iqbal, Gul Rehman, Aneesa Gul, Moulvi Zahoor and Riyaz Ahmad Malik. The new entrants also made brief speeches during the function held at Broadway Hotel. Soz said more people were expected to join the party in the near future. He said the party would hold a grand function at Sher-e-Kashmir Park in March to welcome other new entrants along with their supporters. Minister of Tourism GA Mir, MLC Mohd Muzaffar Parray, JKPCC senior vice-president and treasurer Krishan Kumar Amla and other Congress leaders, including Mohammad Anwar Bhat, Gulam Nabi Mir Lasjan, Farooq Andrabi, Master Mohammad Maqbool and Shameema Sopori, were also present on the occasion. Parray said the new entrants were also attracted to the Congress because of Soz’s dedication to the cause of the people. “All these leaders said they would highlight the problems of the people of areas to which they belong while hoping that Soz would join them to seek the resolution of the problems,” he added.
	Power curtailment: Kashmiri Pandits court arrest at Jagti Tribune News Service Jammu, January 12 Kashmiri Pandit migrants of the Jagti Tenement today protested against the government and court arrest at the Nagrota police station over long curtailment of power in the township. Hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits (KP) staged a protest at the Jagti Tenement for an hour. Later, they moved towards the police station, Nagrota, where they court arrest. The KPs were protesting against the administration for 8-10 hour curtailment of power a day. The protesters have urged the government for an early restoration of proper power supply to the migrant camp failing which the migrants putting up at Jagti shall be left with no other alternative but to start an agitation and hold dharnas and hunger strikes in front of the residence of the Chief Minister. Shadi Lal Pandita, KP leader leading the protest, said, “Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is forcing the migrants to bear electricity charges and execute agreements with the Power Development Department.” The participants have categorically refused to bear any expenses on account of electricity charges till the community is permanently rehabilitated. Pandita said, “Ïf the administration fails to restore the power supply in Jagti, we will come on roads and block the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway”.
	Search continues for militants in Sopore forests on 3rd day Srinagar, January 12 Security forces carried out a combing operation in a vast forest area near Sopore town in north Kashmir for the third consecutive day today. A brief exchange of fire between security forces and militants had taken place inside the forest area on Friday morning. Security forces later busted a militant hideout in the area and seized ration and blankets. The massive search operation continued for the third day today in the north Kashmir forest, 65 km from Srinagar, a police officer said. Sources said Jaish-e-Mohammad militants were believed to be hiding in the area. A police officer said there was a possibility of three militants in the area. Special Army commandos had also been pressed into service during the search operation to locate the militants. An Army officer in Srinagar said the search operation in the forest was almost over as militants were believed to have escaped from the area. — TNS
	Jammu students excel in IIMC diploma course Tribune News Service Jammu, January 12 Students of the second batch of Jammu Centre in English Journalism have brought laurels to the Centre of PG Diploma Courses (2013-2014) by securing first three positions in the course offered by the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), an autonomous institution of Ministry of I&B, Government of India. The students namely Avantika Gupta, Kritika Joshi and Sumedha Sharma have secured first, second and fourth positions, respectively, among all the six centres of the IIMC across the country. Out of 12 students of the Jammu centre, eight have secured first division. However, one of the students of the first batch, Sugam Singhal, was declared the overall topper among all the six centres of the IIMC across the country during session 2012-13. IIMC Jammu Centre is currently offering PG Diploma in English Journalism- an intensive one year programme wherein students are exposed to print Journalism, TV and radio news reading through theory classes and practicals.
	AAP holds rally in Jammu Tribune News Service Jammu, January 12 The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) took out a rally here today in support of Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi. The rally was started from the Press Club and covered Bikram Chowk, Ambedkar Road Jammu University, Bahu Fort, Narwal, Bhatindi, Chowadhi-Sainik Colony, Channi, Trikuta Nagar, Nanak Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, Shastri Nagar, Satwari, Kunjwani, Bablyana Road, Digiana, Gaddi Garh, Chattha, Ware House, Talab Tillo, Gole Gujral, Patta Borhi, Akhnoor Road, Mahesh Pura and concluded at Brigadier Rajinder Singh Chowk. Inder Mohinder Tar Singh, who was leading the rally, said, “We request every one to come forward and participate in the rally to further strengthen the aspirations of the common man”.
	Postponement of gurdwara elections resented Tribune News Service Jammu, January 12 Sikh organisations have condemned the postponement of Gurdwara elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The community said for the last 11 years, they were waiting for the conduct of the elections. General Secretary, J&K Sikh United Front (JKSUF), Avtar Singh Khalsa said the community was shocked to learn that the election scheduled to be held on January 15 had again been postponed. He said it was a clear violation of the Gurdwara Endowment Act, 1973, which said the election of DGPCs and J&K Gurdwara Parbandhak Board should be held after every five years. He alleged that the Government had failed to implement and comply with the orders of the High Court of J&K. Heads of the All-India Sikh Student Federation, Sikh Naujwan Sabha, Gurmat Vichar Manch, Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle and Sikh Welfare Society were present during the conference. They also condemned the postponing of the election. Among others present at the meeting included Suchet Singh, Mohinder Singh, Paramjit Singh, Kulwant Singh, Rajinder Singh, Dharminder Singh, Gurdev Singh and Manmohan Singh.
	MC starts construction of mini-bus stops Tribune News Service Jammu, January 12 The Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) has started construction of new mini-bus stops in Jammu city. Apart from this, old stops are being renovated as part of its efforts to prevent encroachment by hawkers and homeless people. The maintenance is being carried out by Selvel, a private public relation company, which has been given contract for advertising rights by the corporation. Bus stops constructed at the cost of lakhs of rupees between 2005 and 2010 had remained unutilised due to poor maintenance. Constructed for the benefit of commuters travelling by public transport, passenger sheds in the city have become resting place for beggars. Many of these passenger sheds have modern metallic structure, which have been constructed at Gandhi Nagar, Amphalla and outside the corporation building, near the bus stand. Old passenger shed at Women’s College, Gandhi Nagar, Jewel Chowk, Amphalla, Main Stop and at Parade are also being renovated in a phased manner, said a municipal officer. In the recent past, most of public spaces have been occupied by beggars.
	‘Mission Green’ drive launched Tribune News Service Jammu, January 12 The J&K Nirman Sansthan (JKNS), a volunteer organisation, in collaboration with the J&K Forest Department and TV24 news channel started campaign ‘Mission Green’ here today. At JDA Park, the volunteers of the organisation planted saplings to start the campaign. Sohail Qazmi, general secretary of the Press Club of Jammu, and Girish Sharma, president of JKNS, urged the residents to plant more trees to make it green. Other office-bearers of the association namely Aditya Khajuria and Sachin Sharma also spoke on the occasion. Iqbal Singh Sambyal, Dr Karan, Ramesh Chadda, Raj Kumar, Mahesh Padha and Rakesh Abrol were also present on the occasion.
	City all set for Lohri Tribune News Service Jammu, January 12 The city is preparing for Lohri, marking the end of harsh winter period in the plains of Jammu region. Markets are abuzz with people buying various types of dry fruits. The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm in the southern districts of the state. At several localities, children visited homes with “chhaja”, a big handmade paper and bamboo effigy, seeking Lohri while singing traditional folk songs. One of the essential features of the festival is the worship of fire, during which families lit bonfire to ward off evil and celebrate the arrival of warm weather. To give festive look to the city of temples, all bazaars have been illuminated by various business associations. "It gives a chance to shun out grudges and disharmony and celebrate the festival. These festivals also exhibit our rich culture and tradition, so they must be celebrated with fervour,” said Sunaina Gupta, a college student. Meanwhile, educational institutions and schools celebrated the day in advance keeping in view public holiday in Jammu region.
	Blood donation camp held Jammu, January 12 New Era Environment Higher Secondary School organised a blood donation camp. A large number of people donated blood. Officials from the Blood Bank, Government Medical College, Jammu, lauded the initiative taken by the management of the school. They hoped that more institutions would follow this practice to hold such camps in order to create awareness regarding blood donation. Prabha Jain, Principal of the school, expressed gratitude to all the donors to make the programme a success. — TNS
	Police foil protest of jail warden aspirants Tribune News Service Jammu, January 12 The police today foiled the march of shortlisted candidates for the posts of jail warden towards the residence of the Chief Minister. Their ongoing hunger strike entered 42nd day today. The candidates also entered into a scuffle with the police while they were marching towards the CM’s residence in order to highlight their demands. The candidates also alleged that some of their colleagues had gone to Vijaypur to meet the CM during his rally, but were not allowed by the security personnel. Reiterating their resolve to continue the agitation, the candidates told the government to release the final selection list failing which they would intensify their protest. The candidates said about 41,182 youth had applied for the posts advertised in the local dailies in 2005. They claimed that 1,247 candidates were shortlisted for interview held in September 2010, but the final selection list had not been released yet.
	Tributes paid to soldiers killed in avalanche at Kupwara Tribune News Service Srinagar, January 12 Chinar Corps Commander Lt General Gurmit Singh and other army officers today paid rich tributes to the soldiers, who were killed during a recent avalanche in Kupwara district. During a wreath-laying ceremony organised at Badami Bagh Cantonment here, tributes were paid to Naik Lempa Konyak and Sep Thoudam Sanaton Singh of 5 ASSAM who died in Machil Sector where the army post was hit by an avalanche on January 9. The Chinar Corps Commander, in a message to the families of the deceased, said: “My heart goes out to the families and relatives of the two brave soldiers. May the Almighty bestow strength to them to bear the ultimate loss. I on behalf of the whole Chinar Corps salute the brave soldiers.” A total of eight soldiers had been hit by the avalanche, out of which six soldiers had escaped unhurt.
	Omar lauds J&K’s good show in Ranji Trophy Tribune News Service Srinagar, January 12 Even though J&K failed to reach the Ranji Trophy semi-finals, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today congratulated the team for its good performance in the tournament this year. “J&K did an amazing job under their skipper Parvez Rasool to reach the quarters of the Ranji Trophy. You made us proud guys, well done,” Omar wrote on micro-blogging website Twitter. The local side had lost to Punjab on the fourth day of the quarter final tie played at Vadodra yesterday. However, the J&K team had made it to the quarter final stage of the Ranji Trophy for the first time ever and the development had not only cheered up Omar, but also cricket fans of the state. Omar had apparently keenly followed the game as was evident through his tweets. He had first congratulated the J&K team on reaching the quarter final stage and then also tweeted about captain Parvez Rasool’s century in the match later. The J&K captain had led by example after cracking 103 even though the side trailed by 27 runs while chasing Punjab’s first innings score of 304 at Baroda. Finally, the side had lost to Punjab by 100 runs.
	Roadside delivery: ‘Pregnant woman, doctors not stopped’ Tribune News Service Srinagar, January 12 The Army today denied that its personnel had restricted the movement of a pregnant woman and medical staff in a north Kashmir village following which the woman delivered a baby on the roadside. “It is clarified that neither the woman in question, nor the doctor and medical staff were stopped from entering Kukroosa village, where operations were in progress (on Thursday),” a Defence spokesman here said. The spokesman said despite an operation in progress, the unit, on seeing the Primary Health Centre locked, provided “assistance, including arranging for the midwife who supervised the delivery”. “It is reiterated that during the operations, movement may get restricted due to reasons of security, but movement for essential services is never touched, what to talk about emergencies such as pregnancy,” the spokesman said. A preliminary investigation of the government had indicted the Army for not allowing the patient, Ayesha Begum (28), and doctors to enter Kukroosa village, which housed a Public Health Centre, on time on Thursday. “The Defence personnel who cordoned off the Kukroosa area did not allow them to enter Kukroosa for one-and-a-half hours,” stated the inquiry report, published in these columns, but denied by the Army. A probe was carried out by the government after allegations surfaced that the delay caused by the personnel and closure of the hospital on Thursday led to the delivery on the roadside. Meanwhile, the Army today airlifted five persons from two remote regions. “The Air Force airlifted four civilians, including a six-month-pregnant woman facing serious complications, from Dabar village of the Gurez sector to Bandipora town using a Mi-17 helicopter,” the Defence spokesman said. The spokesman said a request to help the woman, Khursheeda Begum, who was six months pregnant and had developing serious complications, was speedily processed by the Dabar brigade with the Air Force. “The request materialised in time and the helicopter was rushed in. Four persons, including the woman, were airlifted to Bandipora, enabling life-saving treatment,” the spokesman said. The Army transported a person suffering from severe typhoid stranded in the snow-bound Mandian area of Kupwara. The Army facilitated the evacuation of Afaq Khan of the remote Mandian area to Farkiyan, where he was provided treatment, the spokesman said.
	29-yr-old revives art of making woollen carpets Rifat Mohidin Srinagar, January 12 In a congested locality of Srinagar's old city, Arifa, 29, is seen discussing her idea exchange trip to Kyrgyzstan. She is just back from an 18-day tour of the Central Asian nation. Arifa is ecstatic about the trip and is intends to use the innovative designs of Kyrgyz craftsmen. Arifa, daughter of a State Road Transport Corporation employee, is the founder of Incredible Kashmiri Crafts, a business enterprise that has revived the old tradition of namdas (woollen carpets) in the Valley. After finishing her Bachelors in Commerce, Arifa had applied for MCom to further her studies, but she ended up doing Masters in Craft Development and Entrepreneurship Management, a newly introduced course to revive craftsmanship in Kashmir, from Crafts Development Institute (CDI), Srinagar. The journey to her business started as a test for Arifa when during her internship programme, she was asked to manufacture 300 namdas (traditional woollen carpets) in four months. "I didn't have much knowledge about it, but I took it as a challenge and had confidence in myself. I thought I can do it," she said. At that time, 2010 summer uprising was on its peak, weeklong curfews and shutdowns wasted her one month. "But thanks to the Almighty, I managed," Arifa said, adding, "I was alone but I did it." Now having manufactured 300 carpets in three months, Arifa was told to do marketing for these products. Arifa got a stall in an exhibition at Delhi through CDI, to market her products. To everyone's surprise, Arifa sold 85 per cent of carpets. "That was the biggest achievement for me and I realised that this craft still had its charm," said Arifa. During the course, Arifa got familiar with the ins and outs of the craft and other similar products. She remained in touch with the artisans and slowly began to get interested in it. "After finishing the course, I thought of starting my own venture by using the skills of artisans and working with them," she says. After all this, Arifa remained uncertain about the idea of business for a year, because she didn't want to start business by taking loan from bank. "The interest rates were too high and my father also didn't allow me," she says. But to Arifa's good luck, she got an offer from a person whom she knew who offered her Rs 50,000 as interest-free loan. After the offer, luck again knocked at the door of Arifa, when a woman whom Arifa had met in Delhi during her internship, offered Arifa Rs 1.5 lakh as help to start her own business. With the initial capital of Rs 2 lakh, the journey of business for Arifa with her two partners started. "We started in August 2011 with woollen carpets only. Now, we manufacture cushion covers, bags, and other home decor items also," she said. Apart from three partners, 16 people derive their livelihood from Arifa's carpet unit at Sekidafar, Srinagar. "We invested all our profit in the business. We haven't taken a single rupee from profit. Whatever we earned we invested in the business," Arifa said. Arifa, who sells her products to customers throughout India, Australia, Finland and many other countries, believes that there is a lot of scope in the business and if somebody wants to earn name, it is in business, not in a job. "If girls keep thinking about societal attitudes and other things, they will be never able to stand on their own feet," Arifa said. "Even if you are alone, the skill is with you," she added. How it all started Arifa, daughter of a State Road Transport Corporation employee, is the founder of Incredible Kashmiri Crafts, a business enterprise that has revived the old tradition of namdas (woollen carpets) in the Valley The journey to her business started during her internship programme when she was asked to manufacture 300 namdas in four months Having manufactured the carpets, she was told to do marketing for these products. Arifa got a stall in an exhibition at Delhi to market her products and she was able to sell 85% of the carpets
	Police start 24-hour helpline for city residents Srinagar, January 12 The Jammu and Kashmir Police today launched a 24-hour helpline for the residents of Srinagar for redressal of their problems and grievances and to check social crime in the city. In order to redress the problems of the general public and check social crimes like drug peddling, eve-teasing and burglaries in the city, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Srinagar, Amit Kumar today launched a grievance cell at the district police lines here that will be accessible to the public round the clock, a police spokesman said. He said a dedicated team of officers have been placed in the cell for prompt response to the public grievances. The measure will bring in transparency and accountability in the functioning of the district police, he said. The spokesman said the public is requested to register their problems and grievances on helpline numbers 0194-2477567, 9596222550 and 9596222551. — PTI
	Symposium held to mark Vivekananda’s birth anniversary Tribune news service Katra, January 12 The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University jointly organised a symposium as part of the celebrations of the National Youth Day to mark the 151st birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda on the university campus at Kakryal today. The topic of the symposium was 'Perspective role of youth in nation's development'. Dr Mandeep K Bhandari, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, was the chief guest. Bhandari congratulated the Shrine Board and the university for organising the National Youth Day. The CEO of the Shrine Board said the teachings of Swami Vivekananda stood for need for learning and education, propagation of the rich Indian culture, purity of thought and conscience, morality based on intrinsic purity, merger of science and religion and strength which our youth symbolised. He observed that there was a need to revive and propagate the ideals and the path shown by the sufis, saints and great thinkers which our country had produced. He emphasised on the role of the youth in nation building. He said organising a symposium provided a valuable opportunity to the participants to focus on the various dimensions of the Swami's life with a view to enlarging awareness about them.
	Health Minister urges people to imbibe Vivekananda’s values Jammu, January 12 A function was organised by the Swami Vivekananda Medical Mission Charitable Hospital, Ambphalla, here today on the occasion of 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. Minister of state for Health Shabir Ahmad Khan, who was the chief guest on the occasion, urged people to imbibe Vivekananda’s values and said his teachings were in consonance with the Vedanta. “He brought out the divinity lying dormant in man. Swami Vivekananda had said I call god whom common man calls human being by mistake,” he said. Member of Legislative Assembly Chaman Lal Gupta was the guest of honour on the occasion. Earlier, the minister inaugurated the newly established modernised laboratory of at the hospital. He also launched the website of the hospital. — TNS
	SPO booked for eve-teasing Doda, January 12 A Special Police Officer (SPO) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police was booked for eve-teasing on Saturday. A case has been registered against Anoop Kumar under section 294, RPC, at police station, Doda. The Governor prayed for the well-being and happiness of the people and wished that the festivals would bring sustained peace and prosperity in the state. — OC