‘Developmental claims made by GoI are a hoax’
Tauseef Ahmad
BANDIPORA, July 15: The government of India’s decision to revoke Article 370 on August 5, 2019 was corroborated with the claims that this ‘archaic law’ was an impediment in the developmental process across Jammu and Kashmir.
However, three years on since the decision; have things really changed on the ground or stayed unchanged? Kashmir Despatch talked to a section of people in Gurez Valley of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district and found extreme levels of dissatisfaction among its residents.
“The tall claims made by the political parties are always a hoax. They say something and do something different on the ground. We have now decided that we will not support any political party in the upcoming assembly polls till our problems are resolved,” Mohammad Anwar Mir (70) from Neer Tulail told Kashmir Despatch.
He added: “We have a glimpse of our political leaders only at the time of elections. We are helpless and don’t know where to go. Our roads, medical and education facilities are the same as we had in 1996.”
In the District Development Council elections, he said, the residents of Tulail mostly supported the BJP. “The first seat that BJP won was from Tulail Bandipora but unfortunately we were let down by the BJP also. Now we have decided to boycott elections and we won’t support any political party henceforth unless they reciprocate with the same seriousness,” he added.
People in Tualil said that after the abrogation of Article 370, the central government had claimed that it will develop J&K especially its border areas but nothing has been done on ground so far in Gurez.
“Whenever we approach any political leader for any public work they always cite paucity of funds to carry out any developmental work. If the central government claims of liberal funding for developmental works in J&K, where do those funds go?” Ghulam Rasool asked, while talking to Kashmir Despatch.
Another local Arshad Ahmad told Kashmir Despatch that they regret their participation in the last elections (DDC elections). “We supported the BJP here in DDC elections. BJP is running the government at the Centre and despite this fact, it did nothing for us so far,” he added.
He said that the residents of Gurez have always been on the forefront in strengthening the democratic processes in J&K. “We would always participate in elections in huge numbers. Be it for NC, PDP or BJP we have worked for these political parties and have supported them in elections but all in vain. We still crave for basic amenities like medical, educational or ration depots,” he added.
Pertinently, the three community development blocks in Gurez valley–Bagtore, Kanzalwan and Tulail, designated under Rural Development Department, only one Block Development Officer is manning all the three blocks as the posts of BDO in two other blocks lie vacant. Gurez has 20 Panchayats and the development in all these Panchyats depend on the functioning of its three Community Development Blocks.
As far as the healthcare facility in 29 villages of Gurez, comprising of a population of around 37000 is concerned, most of the patients especially pertaining to gynae and obstetrics are compelled to shift to Bandipora for medical treatment, Irshad Hussain Samoon told Kashmir Despatch.
He added that many patients who are advised to remain stationed or shift and stay at Bandipora during winter cannot afford to do so because of their poor economic conditions. “There are no gynaecologists, specialists or dental surgeons available in Gurez. Patients who need these services are left high and dry during their pressing circumstances,” Reyaz Ahmad, a resident of Gurez, informed Kashmir Despatch.
According to a letter number BMOG/Estt/2022/37-40 dated April 16, 2022 shot by the BMO concerned to the chief medical officer Bandipora with an intimation to the director health services Kashmir and Deputy Commissioner Bandipora against a sanctioned strength of Medical officers, three dental surgeons and five specialists; only nine medical officers and two specialists are presently posted in Gurez Medical Block.
This letter also reveals that the posts of 11 medical officers, three dental surgeons, three specialists (1 Physician, 1Gynecologist, 1 Pediatrician) are lying vacant in Gurez Medical Block thus leaving a population of thousands at the mercy of nature.
The BMO concerned has admitted in her letter that in absence of the requisite medical officers, it is extremely difficult to run the healthcare services in Gurez.
Similarly, in the education sector Gurez valley is far behind in terms of infrastructure and the manpower required to cater to its population. “There are five higher secondary schools in which around 600 students are enrolled,” said Reyaz Ahmad.
He added that upgraded in 2020 Kilshay higher secondary school of Gurez valley has 12 vacant posts of lecturers. “In Dawar higher secondary school four posts of lecturers are vacant, two posts of Chemistry and Urdu are lying vacant for the last four years. This has resulted in poor results for these schools in board exams,” said Sadam Hussain, a student from Dawar Gurez, while talking to Kashmir Despatch.
Similarly, roads in Gurez are in a dilapidated condition and the commuters face tough times especially during winters. “You can check the overall development scenario in Gurez and you will find no significant change in our infrastructure that could have eased our problems,” said Reyaz Ahmad.
