Rising Costs of Education and Healthcare Deepen Public Anger; Government Accused of Ignoring Core Welfare Issues
Srinagar, Oct 26, KNT: Public outrage is mounting across Jammu and Kashmir over what many describe as the government’s continued indifference toward people-centric issues, particularly the soaring cost of education and healthcare. Citizens and civic groups say the administration’s failure to regulate private institutions has turned basic rights into privileges affordable only to a few.
In Srinagar and other urban centres, education has become prohibitively expensive. Parents complain that even schools with minimal facilities charge exorbitant annual fees, often exceeding Rs 5,000, in addition to monthly tuition charges. “The concept of affordable education no longer exists,” said a parent from Srinagar. “Private schools impose multiple heads of fees without justification, and the government remains silent.”
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The situation is no different in healthcare. The absence of adequate infrastructure in government hospitals forces even the poorest citizens to seek treatment in private facilities that charge heavily for consultations, tests, and medicines. Locals allege that the government has failed to strengthen the public health system, leaving citizens at the mercy of private operators.
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A couple of respectable citizens told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that ministers and senior officers remain occupied with inaugurations, ribbon-cutting ceremonies, and photo opportunities instead of addressing real public concerns. “While leaders speak of development, they ignore the fact that families are going bankrupt to educate their children or to pay hospital bills,” said a civil society member.
They said that in the 21st century, election campaigns in Jammu and Kashmir continue to revolve around promises of water, electricity, and roads, while education and healthcare, the true foundations of a developed society, receive little attention. “The government’s priorities are misplaced. Welfare sectors should not be treated as businesses,” said an academic.
They urged the government to enact stringent regulations to prevent private schools and hospitals from exploiting citizens. “Strict laws are needed to stop this unregulated profiteering. Education and healthcare must be made affordable and accessible to all, not just to those who can pay,” they said. [KNT]
