KINS Anantnag Correspondent
Srinagar, July 03 (KINS): A landlord on Friday locked the health centre at Kamad Anantnag after authorities failed to pay him for the last six-years.
There are hundreds of health centres operating in rented buildings in Kashmir as the government has failed to create its own infrastructure.
In Kamad Anantnag, a health centre has been running for the last 40 years in a two room private accommodation.
However, the owner of the building Friday locked the health centre after authorities failed to pay him rent since 2014.
“We are paid rent of Rs 200 per month. But since 2014, the government did not pay any rent to us, which forced me to lock the health centre,” Riyaz Ahmad Shah, who is owner of the house told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).
He said they had written letters to authorities many times but to no avail. “We had decided to close the health centre before COVID-19 began but then thought people should not suffer, and allowed them to operate here. As no one was paying heed to us, we locked the health centre,” Riyaz, who is handicapped and lives with his widow mother, said.
He has also seized furniture and other items of the health centre. “We will return these things only when they clear pending dues,” he said.
The health centre has one doctor, two nurses, two medical assistants, four Asha workers and a sweeper.
It caters to around 15,000 population of the area. The health centre is for checkup of pregnant women and immunization of children.
CMO Anantnag Dr Mukhtar said they would pay rent under a central budget. “We have not received funds from the Centre and this is the reason for delay in releasing the payment. I have also sent BMO Achabal there to sort out the issue,” Mukhtar told KINS.
