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Row over AIIMS dangerous

Kashmir Times. Dated: 5/22/2015 8:49:10 AM

Increased animosity between Kashmir and Jammu regions has potential of dangerous consequences

The AIIMS row has once again pitted the two regions of Jammu and Kashmir opposed to each other like adversaries. While this is in striking contrast to the claims of the BJP and the PDP who sought to legitimise their otherwise unholy alliance on the logic of balancing the regional sentiments of Kashmir Valley and Jammu province, it also pushes the state once again to the vulnerable situation of increased animosity which has the potential of taking a dangerous turn. Interestingly, this time the issue is not being evoked by the BJP, which is in power, and its affiliated right wing bodies but by the Congress which professes to adhere to a secular and non-racist ideology. It goes against the grain of the Congress, ideologically speaking, to treat itself simply as the representative of Jammu region and rake up an issue with dangerously communal overtones. Past experiences have shown that issues raked up on regional basis have been good neither for the state nor added to the stature, pride and benefit of either of the two regions of Jammu and Kashmir, where divisive politics are often a handy tool for various key political players.
The Centre has sanctioned a medical institute on the pattern of AIIMS for Jammu and Kashmir and the state government has decided to locate it in Kashmir Valley. There should be no controversy about that but for the professed claim that AIIMS should have gone into Jammu’s kitty as per promises by successive governments at the Centre in the past. Whether or not promises were made in the past, there was never any concrete proposal in this regard. It is of course, the state government’s prerogative to decide where to locate a facility or institution sanctioned by the Centre. Assurances, however, were made in the recent past to make the existing Super Specialty hospital in Jammu into an institution at par with AIIMS. That does not make the region a better qualifier for the institution. Obviously, the state cannot and should not get two, instead of one AIIMS institutes, solely to balance the regional sentiments perpetuated by petty political interests. Such a wrong precedent has been set in the past in the issue of Central University, finally giving the state two universities, neither of which are fully functional half a decade since the hullabaloo over them. The already existing universities in the state are already plagued by the syndrome of poor academic quality and that has been nobody’s concern, much less the political beings who love to dig up issues with divisive flavour and agenda.
Rationally speaking, Kashmir Valley may be a better contender for a facility like AIIMS given the vulnerability of the population to more diseases and the landlocked geography of the region and its access to better medical facilities outside the state remains far poorer than Jammu. However, it is nobody’s case to ignore health care in Jammu region. That indeed needs prime attention and making the Super-specialty hospital more functional and more purposeful than it has been made would be a more ideal thing to pursue. The focus in both the regions should be need and quality of institutions, starting with consolidation of existing ones, not blind competitiveness without any productivity. The focus should be on making this possible by removing the politicking, bureaucratic red-tapism, favouritism and complacency that ails these institutions. Lest, the state is left with hollow frameworks of exciting sounding institutions but substandard infrastructure. Keeping the basic spirit behind addition of better health care institutions, let AIIMS go to the Valley as decided and let Jammu have its equal share by making the existing Super-specialty hospital an exemplary one with facilities that are par excellence.