Frislan Pahalgam health sub-center runs from a tin shed: Locals suffer

Sameer Ahmad

Anantnag 23 October: A sub-center of the health department located in Frislan  Pahalgam village of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district is functioning from a tin shed,  for the last three years.

Frislan village is about 10 km’s from the famous tourist spot Pahalgam, the village comprises about 250 households. The locals said that the so-called health sub-center has only 1 Ayush doctor and 1 nurse staff to cater to the medical needs of 250 households in the village.’ The sub -centre serves only as a first-aid medical centre’ , the locals rue.

‘We can’t call it a health sub-center as it is devoid of all kinds of facilities, said a local resident Abdul Rasheed.

The villagers have contributed in every possible way to ensure the construction of masonry and for this, they donated a part of their land and money to construct masonry of sub-center in 2017. However, in 2018 ahead of the Amarnath Yatra some officials visited the village and covered it up with polythene and attached sub centerboard and since then not a single official ever turned up, said, locals.

They further said that the route is the main route of the Amarnath shrine. It is an irony that during the period of Amarnath Yatra the govt ensures that the village is decked up with all the facilities however after the Amarnath yatra is over everything else is back to the square.

 ‘It is extremely difficult to live here as a lack of access to basic needs like water , roads, and medical facilities is taking a toll on the health of the villagers ‘said one of the residents.

The residents lamented over the callous attitude of the government as well as the Anantnag District administration that despite being aware of the sufferings of villagers are not paying any attention to resolve their miseries.

‘ We carry the patient on our shoulders and travel more than 10 km to a famous tourist place Pahalgam on a rough road just to see a doctor. This takes about 3 hours by road by then the patient’s condition gets worse, said locals.

However, official sources said that the Frislan health sub-center has recently upgraded to a health and wellness center but the authorities have not taken any action on the ground to convert this center into a wellness center.

Meanwhile, Arising State tried to contact the health officials, but they didn’t pick our phone.