Promises Lost in Snow: A Mother’s Ordeal Exposes Hollow Claims of Development in Kashmir.
||Black and White Digital News||
||Parvinder Singh November 26,2024 ||
Srinagar: – The picturesque snow-clad landscape of north Kashmir’s Machil area turned into a theater of anguish and despair as a pregnant woman was forced to give birth on a snow-covered road in Chontiwari Payeen, Kupwara district. This tragic and avoidable ordeal unfolded after the roads remained uncleared post a minor snowfall, leaving the woman and her family helpless in their quest to reach the hospital.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage and brought the glaring inadequacies of governance and administration into sharp focus. Locals decried the lack of preparedness and negligence, emphasizing that despite only a few inches of snow, the roads became impassable. Videos circulating on social media show residents braving harsh conditions to transport the laboring woman while voicing their frustrations.
“Is There Anyone Listening?”
A resident, Muhammad Jamaal Lone, lambasted the administration’s apathy, stating, “We are left to fend for ourselves. There is a health center here, but it’s non-functional with no doctors. This is not just negligence; it is criminal.” Lone’s anguish reflects a collective sense of betrayal, as locals alleged that the administration’s promises of infrastructure and development have remained hollow.
The mother, who delivered her baby on the road, was eventually taken to PHC Dudi, where she and the newborn are now reportedly safe. However, the incident has laid bare the stark realities of life in remote areas of Kashmir, where basic amenities like healthcare, road connectivity, and electricity remain elusive despite tall claims by the government.
A Stark Contrast to Grand Claims:
For years, the Jammu and Kashmir administration, under Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and successive governments before him, has boasted of unprecedented development in the region. High-ranking officials and elected representatives often highlight achievements in healthcare, road connectivity, and modern infrastructure. Yet, the ordeal of this woman serves as a grim reminder that these promises remain largely on paper.
“The administration failed to clear just a few inches of snow,” said another local, visibly distressed. “This reflects the stepmotherly treatment given to far-off villages like ours.” The sentiment was echoed across the region, with residents lamenting the widening gap between the government’s rhetoric and the lived realities of common people.
Administrative Response Under Scrutiny:
Tehsildar Saqib Ahmed defended the administration, calling allegations of negligence “baseless.” He claimed the woman’s family had been advised to relocate to Kupwara for better access to healthcare during snowfall. “Both the mother and the child are safe, and immediate healthcare was provided,” he said. On the issue of road clearance, he asserted that major roads had been cleared and efforts were ongoing for others.
These statements, however, did little to assuage the anger of locals. Many questioned the feasibility of such advisories, given the economic constraints of rural families. “Why can’t the government ensure functional health centers in villages? Why should we have to abandon our homes every winter?” asked a frustrated resident.
A Broader Crisis of Basic Amenities:
The incident also reignites the debate over the systemic neglect of remote areas in Jammu and Kashmir. While billions are allocated annually for infrastructure, residents of far-flung villages still grapple with issues like inadequate healthcare, unreliable electricity, and unpaved roads.
Critics argue that local representatives, from MLAs to DDC members and Sarpanches, have failed to prioritize the needs of their constituencies. “Development is not about announcements; it’s about results. Where are those results?” said a political analyst.
An Urgent Call for Accountability:
As the video of the woman’s plight continues to stir emotions online, citizens across the region are demanding accountability. The administration must address not just the immediate concerns of road clearance but also the broader systemic failures that allow such tragedies to occur.
For the residents of Chontiwari Payeen, this snowstorm was not an act of nature but a manifestation of administrative apathy. As one resident aptly put it, “The snow will melt, but the scars of neglect will remain.”
The ordeal of this woman and her newborn is a stark indictment of the gap between lofty promises and ground realities. Until these gaps are bridged, the common man will continue to suffer, abandoned in the shadows of Kashmir’s breathtaking but unforgiving winters.
Sajad Gani Lone
