In times of communication gag, uncertainty, patients crave for free medicine, help; Restrictions in first 15 days didn’t allow us to serve people this time, say NGO workers
Srinagar, Sep 06 : Unlike 2016, the Non-Government Organizations (NGO) have not established their tents outside the Valley’s major hospitals here to assist the patients amid the continuous shutdown and cellular and internet gag in Kashmir. With this, a huge chunk of patients and attendants are craving for free medicines and help as seen during the summer agitation of 2016.
Kashmir Valley is observing spontaneous shutdown since August 05, 2019 after the central government abrogated Article 370 and bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories.
Such a shutdown has been witnessed in the Valley in past as well including the year 2016, 2010 and 2008 for separate reasons.
In 2016, the NGOs had put up their tents outside the Valley’s prominent hospitals here to assist the people especially those who were being shifted to the hospital for treatment after receiving grave injuries during the clashes at different places.
However, during the current spontaneous shutdown, no NGO has installed their stall with medical aids and other food stuff for the patients as well as their attendants so far.
Though the attendants have been facing immense hardships since the Valley is facing communication blockade and need of such NGOs has gained the momentum here but no NGO could be seen assisting the people in open like 2016 agitation.
This year, the number of injured persons shifted to Srinagar hospital was not high but still patients who are suffering from different ailments are presently admitted in the hospital.
However, witnesses said that one of these NGOs had erected their tents outside LD hospital where they were seen assisting the patients as well as their attendants.
Nazir Ahmad, a worker of one of the NGOs told that they couldn’t provide assistance to the people during this period due to the lack of cellular connectivity. “We were not able to contact our people to get prepared for the assistance and to make the medicines and other things available for the patients,” he said.
Another worker, Aabid Ahmad said that the government had imposed restrictions in most parts of the Valley for 15 consecutive days from August 05, which was another reason for not getting able to assist the patients.
However, he said that NGOs have been helping the people in different manner now; they have been assisting the people locally through different means. “The NGOs will never stop their work. They have worked in the past and will work for the people in future as well. But, the only thing is that their actions and plans could be different in serving the people,” he added.
(Inputs from KNO)
