Budgam, Jan 3, KNT: Locals of Khag Tehsil in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district have once again raised their long-standing demand for the establishment of a Sub-District Hospital, pointing out that Khag remains the only tehsil headquarters in Jammu and Kashmir deprived of this essential facility even in the twenty-first century. Locals say that several tehsils with smaller populations have already been upgraded, while Khag continues to face official neglect.
Located in the hilly foothills of the Pir Panjal range and situated over 40 kilometres from Srinagar, Khag serves a widely scattered population living in difficult terrain. At present, the tehsil has only a Primary Health Centre, where just seven doctors are responsible for providing medical care to nearly 70 adjoining villages with a population exceeding 60,000. Inhabitants say the existing setup is grossly inadequate to handle routine and emergency medical needs.
Villages such as Drung, Gugaldara, Suthran, Habber, Shonglypora, Sugin, Poshkar, Dalwash, Surish, Naserpora, Malpora, Sharan, Koker Bagh, Khanpora, Fojipora and Saidwan depend entirely on this facility. Due to the lack of basic infrastructure and specialist care, patients are compelled to travel to Srinagar even for minor ailments, causing severe inconvenience and financial burden, particularly for poor families.
Senior citizen Ghulam Hassan Malik told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that the situation defeats the very purpose of national healthcare schemes aimed at providing medical facilities at people’s doorsteps. He added that hardships increase during winter months when many far-flung villages remain cut off from the tehsil headquarters due to snowfall and road closures.
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Locals also expressed resentment over what they described as repeated political neglect. They said leaders visit the area during elections and promise a sub-district hospital, but no concrete steps are taken after polls. Inhabitants pointed out that nearby Khan Sahib tehsil has been upgraded with a sub-division and a sub-district hospital, while Khag has been left behind.
Mushtaq Ahmad Malik, an inhabitant of Khag, said the absence of specialists including surgeons, gynaecologists, paediatricians, orthopaedicians and ophthalmologists has made healthcare access especially difficult for pregnant women and children. He urged the Health Minister to consider upgrading Khag to a Sub-District Hospital in view of its population size, geographical challenges and prolonged suffering of the people.
The Health Minister Sakina Itoo didn’t respond to the reapeted phone calls. [KNT]
