Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 17: A Public Health Centre (PHC) in one of the remotest villages of south Kashmir’s Shopian district is without a doctor ever since it was established three years ago.
The villagers said that Ahgam village in the district has been ignored by the successive Governments since the 1998 blaze when a massive fire gutted the entire village. They told Excelsior that there was near- zero developmental work in the village after 1998 blaze.
After the blaze, the Army under Operation Sadhbavna sanctioned Rs 1.5 crore for the village development and also constructed three community halls in the village.
Three years ago, the locals and Government decided to convert one of the community halls into PHC. But, the locals said, no doctor has been posted in the PHC since then. “This reflects the non-serious approach of the Government towards this village and health sector particular,” the locals said.
Ironically, the District Administration is not aware about the issue. When contacted, the Deputy Commissioner Shopian Bashir Ahmad told Excelsior: “Yes, there is a village called Ahgam. I don’t know why there is no doctor. You tell the locals to come here and apprise us about the issue and then we will solve it.”
Ahgam is nearly 25 kilometers from Shopian main town and the locals said that the cab drivers charge hundreds of rupees in case of emergency as there is Poor road connectivity. “The poor road connectivity is also one of the reasons why this village has been ignored,” the locals said.
Another community hall was turned into a post office by locals but that too is defunct. The drinking water tank in the village that supplies water to 352 households is also in shambles.
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