Spending crores on fountains and selfie points, while hospitals lack cancer care and PhD holders sell dry fruit on roadsides, is a dangerous misplacement of focus
Suhail Gaznavi
At a time when Kashmir continues to battle chronic poverty, unemployment, weak healthcare systems, and underdeveloped infrastructure, the focus of development must remain firmly on the welfare of the people. Yet, crores of rupees continue to be spent on cosmetic beautification projects.
Across the Valley, district hospitals lack even basic diagnostic and treatment facilities. Several hospitals continue to face shortages of doctors, specialists, and essential medical equipment. Patients requiring advanced care, particularly cancer treatment, have no option but to travel to SKIMS, the only major cancer treatment centre serving not only Kashmir but also Ladakh. For families from remote areas, the cost and difficulty of travel often become an additional burden during already distressing times.
No doubt, the government has initiated several development projects in recent years, including road widening, bridge construction, hospital refurbishments, and Smart City initiatives such as improved drainage systems, riverfront development, and upgraded public spaces. Electrification and digital connectivity in some remote areas are also positive steps. However, these efforts remain insufficient, as they do not adequately address the deeper issues affecting everyday life. Healthcare access, employment generation, rural connectivity, and modernised education continue to lag behind ground realities.
In such circumstances, spending large sums on clock towers, fountains, LED installations, selfie points, and statues raises serious concerns about development priorities. Progress cannot be judged by how visually appealing a city appears, but by how effectively it safeguards human dignity, well-being, and opportunity.
The unemployment crisis in Kashmir further underlines this imbalance. A significant number of educated youth are compelled to leave their families and migrate to foreign countries, particularly Gulf nations, in search of a livelihood. This migration is often driven not by choice or ambition, but by the absence of stable employment opportunities at home.
Equally distressing is the growing visibility of highly educated Kashmiris — including PhD scholars — selling dry fruits and other items on roadsides to make ends meet. When the region’s most qualified individuals are forced into such circumstances, it becomes evident that the growing gap between investment and impact highlights the need for a reassessment of development planning, especially in creating sustainable and dignified employment.
Another alarming dimension is the rising mental health burden linked to economic insecurity and prolonged uncertainty. Many young people face anxiety, depression, and emotional distress, yet mental health services remain limited and inaccessible for large sections of the population. This silent crisis further underscores the importance of prioritising human welfare over cosmetic interventions.
Infrastructure deficits persist across rural Kashmir, where many villages remain poorly connected due to damaged and neglected roads. During harsh winters, these roads often become lifelines that determine access to healthcare and essential services. Schools in many areas continue to function without adequate heating, laboratories, libraries, or modern learning tools, directly affecting the future prospects of thousands of children.
True development lies in strengthening public healthcare, modernising education, improving connectivity, generating employment, and ensuring basic living standards for all. It lies in policies that place people — not appearances — at the centre of progress. A society is ultimately judged not by its monuments, but by the well-being, dignity, and opportunities it provides to its people.
Beautification can wait — human lives cannot.
The writer is an advocate at the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh
suhailadv13@ gmail.com