The Government’s decision to set up emergency and accident hospitals in Uri and Poonch reflects its concern for the security and well-being of its people.
These installations will benefit the people of these border districts in many ways.
Firstly, by setting up these hospitals, the Government will be bringing healthcare to the doorstep of the people.
The hospitals will be equipped to provide emergency care. This will ensure that people do not have to take huge risks to get to a hospital as is the case now. The hospitals will be speciality hospitals as far as emergency health care is concerned, and, having them at the very doorsteps of the district means the people will be able to get world class care without risk to life or limb.
Secondly, this decision will go a long way in addressing the sense of isolation that people living in border areas experience.
The very fact that the Government is willing to spend resources on putting up such installations sends a message to the people of these border districts that they are not forgotten sons and daughters of the country.
They too are entitled to the same comfort and security as the people living in the mainland. It is a gesture that bridges the gap that often exists between the people and the Government. In other words, it is a people’s gesture.
Thirdly, these hospitals will be major economic generators.
They will provide employment to many people. They will also encourage more medical practitioners to settle in these areas. Moreover, they will provide an incentive for investment activity in these areas as businesses will feel more confident about setting up operations in such strategic locations.
The presence of these hospitals will make these border areas not only inhabitable but desirable places to live in. People are more likely to take up jobs in these areas knowing that there are reliable and modern healthcare services available. As a result, people will settle in these areas, leading to a mushrooming of other investment intensive activities such as education and agriculture. In other words, investment in healthcare will yield dividends in all sectors of the economy.
Lastly, the Government has demonstrated that it understands that the best way to secure the borders is to put up such installations as these hospitals.
It is a realisation that the Government has that physical security is best achieved by strengthening the very fabric of society – a lesson that most Governments have failed to acknowledge. It is a move that shows that the Government cares for the people and is willing to go to great lengths to provide comfort and security to people living in these border areas. After all, that is what development is all about; development of the people. And so, we should wholeheartedly endorse the decision to set up these hospitals in Uri and Poonch.
