Govt eyes making J&K the hub of medical tourism
Monday - November 4, 2019 11:00 am ,
Category : WTN SPECIAL
WTN- If things move on as planned, Jammu & Kashmir can develop the new medical tourism hub of north India. The Central government has joined hands with the state administration to work in this direction. Initially, at an investment of Rs 240 crore, two cancer institutes will be opened. Also, two new medical colleges have been planned as part of the larger scheme. Experts from India and abroad will be roped in to develop Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences in Srinagar into an international standard research and treatment centre. The process is also on to develop two medi-cities – one in the valley and the other Jammu Division of J&K. At present the state has only 13 major government hospitals and eight medical colleges, apart from 22 district hospitals.
The state of Jammu and Kashmir will be reconstituted on October 31 as two Union Territories of Jammu& Kashmir and Ladakh. It must be mentioned that there is no big modern cancer institute in north India outside Delhi. A new facility in Jammu region will benefit a large number of cancer patients from Punjab and Himachal Pradesh apart from J&K. The Centre has sought a detailed report on the medical facilities and infrastructure in the state to bring about the necessary changes.
Given the strategic importance of J&K, geographically as well as politically and demographically, such development initiatives are most welcome and they hold the potential to change the whole economic and geo-political scenario of the state. The key to end the alienation and isolation of the people from mainland India is development. It is the only potent thread to join peoples and the abrogation of Article 370 has opened up the best opportunity for the government to exploit it to the hilt.
China has done the same in Tibet and other areas to stamp its authority and spread the domain of its influence. By laying out roads and railways and communication network, China has peacefully and effectively brought all dissenting areas under its tactical control. India must emulate this model to bring J&K rightfully in its political ambit. This will, in a natural process, weaken Pakistan’s claim and influence over the region and obliterate the need for any offensive. The government must target the spread and development of education, healthcare and communication networks in the state to wean away people from the divisive narrative sold by Pakistan. When people see developments on the ground, their mindsets change and the futility of violence comes up as a more glaring truth as developments bring in new hopes and opportunities to each individual to progress and prosper.
J&K has immense potential in tourism, in furniture and food processing sector and also in hydro-energy, which need to be given the right impetus by creating a conducive atmosphere. The government must have set its eyes on a long-term roadmap to give the required boost to the state, so long been under fire from across the border, and take up the re-building exercise in the right earnest. - Window To News
