Toxic street food and substandard medicines expose a dangerous culture where greed jeopardises lives. Urgent action is needed to prioritise health over money.
In Kashmir, a dangerous trend has taken root where the pursuit of money has overshadowed the value of human life. From toxic street food to substandard medicines, many traders, suppliers, and even some institutions appear to place profit above the well-being of ordinary Kashmiris.
It is an uncomfortable truth, but one that needs to be said: for too many people in the supply chain of food and medicine, health is no longer the priority. Money is.
Toxic Food on Every Corner
Walk through the busy streets of Srinagar or any bustling market in the districts, and you will see rows of food stalls, bright and inviting. Fried snacks sizzle in pans, meat is displayed openly, and juices are poured into plastic cups. But behind the tempting smells lies a harsh reality. Much of this food is unsafe. Oil is reused until it turns dark and toxic, meat is stored without refrigeration, and vegetables are washed in contaminated water.
Food safety regulations exist, but enforcement is often weak. Some vendors knowingly cut corners to save money. Cheap cooking oil replaces quality oil, artificial colours are added to make stale food look fresh, and hygiene is ignored. The result? A spike in food-borne illnesses, stomach infections, and long-term health complications.
Why does this happen? The answer is simple and devastating. Good quality ingredients cost more. Following proper hygiene takes time and money. And in a system where profit is the priority, health becomes the first casualty.
Medicines That Harm Instead of Heal
The story is no better in the pharmaceutical market. Many Kashmiris rely on local chemist shops for their daily medicines. Yet reports have shown that certain suppliers flood the market with substandard or expired medicines, sold at discounted rates to attract buyers. On the surface, this looks like a favour to the poorbut in reality, it is a trap.
Low-quality medicines can fail to treat diseases, worsen conditions, or even cause serious side effects. Instead of curing the sick, these medicines prolong illness and increase suffering. Why would anyone risk selling such products? Again, the motive circles back to profit. Substandard drugs are cheaper to purchase and offer higher margins when sold.
For some sellers, a quick gain today is worth more than the health or life of a patient tomorrow.
The Money Mindset
The deeper problem is a mindset that values money above all else. It is not limited to one profession or one sector; it is a cultural drift. For many, success is measured not by the quality of service provided but by the amount of profit made. This is not to say that every vendor or pharmacist is corrupt; far from it. Many hardworking Kashmiris run their businesses with honesty and care. But the growing number of those who exploit public trust for personal gain is alarming.
This mindset has roots in economic hardship. Decades of instability have left many families struggling to survive. In such an environment, the temptation to make quick money even through unethical means becomes stronger. But when profit becomes the only goal, the social fabric begins to tear.
The Hidden Costs of Ignoring Health
What is often forgotten is that the cost of ignoring public health is far greater than any short-term profit. Unsafe food and poor-quality medicines lead to more illnesses, higher medical expenses, lost productivity, and even premature deaths. The burden on hospitals increases, and families are pushed deeper into poverty.
In the long run, a society that neglects health for money ends up paying with both lost wealth and lost lives.
The Role of Authorities
The Food Safety Department, the Health Department, and other regulatory bodies in Jammu and Kashmir do conduct raids and inspections. There have been crackdowns on unhygienic food stalls and pharmacies selling banned medicines. However, enforcement is often sporadic and reactive, not continuous and proactive. Many offenders return to the same practices soon after being fined.
Part of the problem lies in limited manpower and resources, but corruption and political interference also weaken the system. Without consistent monitoring and strict punishment, the cycle continues.
What Needs to Change
Breaking this dangerous cycle requires action on multiple fronts:
- Stricter Enforcement: Food and drug safety laws must be enforced consistently, with no room for bribery or political pressure.
- Public Awareness: People must be educated about the dangers of unsafe food and counterfeit medicines so they can make informed choices.
- Support for Honest Vendors: Those who follow proper safety standards should be rewarded through certifications, tax relief, or public recognition.
- Cultural Shift: Schools, media, and community leaders need to promote a value system where health and honesty matter more than quick profit.
- Whistleblower Protection: People who report unsafe practices should be protected and encouraged.
A Call for Collective Responsibility
This is not a problem that can be solved by the government alone. Every citizen of Kashmir has a role to play. Consumers must demand quality and refuse to buy from those who compromise health. Vendors must commit to ethical practices even when it means earning less in the short term. Authorities must act as guardians of public health, not silent spectators.
If we allow money to outweigh health, we are, in effect, trading our lives for temporary gain. And no amount of wealth can buy back a life lost to unsafe food or harmful medicine.
Kashmir is blessed with natural beauty, fertile land, and resilient people. It deserves to be equally known for its healthy citizens, not for the silent suffering caused by greed. The time has come to choose: will we value money, or will we value life? Because in the end, we cannot have one without protecting the other.
The writer is an environmental researcher
Sahil Jahangir Mir
sa***************@***il.com