Kakapora social activist stages unique protest, demands completion of SDH project
Residents say prolonged delay in Sub-District Hospital construction is causing immense hardship to patients
Pulwama: A social activist in south Kashmir’s Kakapora area on Monday staged a unique protest against the prolonged delay in the construction of the Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Kakapora, demanding immediate completion of the long-pending healthcare project.
The protest was led by local social activist Ali Mohammad Jan, who adopted an unusual symbolic method by placing a cap on a handcart to draw public attention towards the issue. The protest quickly attracted the attention of locals, many of whom joined him in expressing resentment over the delay.
Speaking during the protest, Ali Mohammad Jan said that the construction of the Sub-District Hospital in Kakapora has remained incomplete for several years despite repeated assurances from the authorities.
He alleged that the project has now been pushed into further uncertainty after recent remarks attributed to the Health Minister from the ruling National Conference, suggesting that the present site may not be suitable for the hospital.
Jan questioned why the suitability of the site was not examined before the project was initiated.
“If the location was unsuitable, the authorities should have assessed it before starting the construction work. After spending years and public resources on the project, raising such concerns now only adds to the suffering of the people,” he said.
He said the delay has severely affected residents of Kakapora and adjoining areas, as patients are often forced to travel to Pulwama town or Srinagar for treatment due to the lack of advanced medical facilities in the area.
“The people here deserve proper healthcare facilities. In emergencies, patients face immense difficulties because the hospital project remains incomplete,” he added.
Several local residents also extended support to the protest, saying that a large population from Kakapora and nearby villages depends on the proposed hospital for healthcare services.
They urged the government to end the uncertainty surrounding the project and take immediate steps to ensure its completion at the earliest.
The protesters demanded that the authorities adopt a clear policy regarding the future of SDH Kakapora and expedite the work so that modern healthcare facilities can be made available to the public without further delay.
