Govt has no data on health care services for Amarnath pilgrims

RTI applicant denied information on all fronts

Javaid Naikoo

SRINAGAR, Jan 25: With no details of record about health services and facilities provided to Shri Amarnath Yatra pilgrims every year during over month long pilgrimage, the Health Services Department of Kashmir has denied information to an RTI applicant filed in the Directorate last year. Apart from other relevant information, he had sought details regarding the number of doctors and criteria for selection of doctors and other medical staff with the incentives given to these people during the yatra period.  As for the number of doctors deputed with the yatra both at Pahalgam as well as Baltal base camps since 2011, the applicant was denied of any such information and was diverted to contact nodal officers of Anantnag, Ganderbal and incharge of yatra officer's at Baltal and Pahalgam camps.  In reply to another question to one Farooq Ahmad Kuthoo, c/o of Travekash Travel solutions Pvt Ltd Munawarabad Srinagar dated 21/12/2012,DHSK/RTI/117, regarding the details of TA/DA and other incentives given to doctors for serving during this period, the applicant was denied this information too and instead asked to collect the same from the concerned departments and persons as per the RTI guidelines. The applicant was again diverted to the nodal officers of Anantnag, Ganderbal, Baltal and Pahalgam base camps.

The total funds shown annually for spending on the smooth functioning of Amarnath ji yatra with effect from 2011 is 54.43 lakhs,17.33 lakhs, 28.07 lakhs and 10.00 lakhs for the year 2011 and 2012, where as funds allocated for the year 2012 and 2013 are Rs 51.04 lakhs, 20.82 lakhs and Rs 27.06. In reply to another question asked about the criteria for selection of doctors and other paramedics for providing complete health care system to yatris during this period, the question has been replied for the sake of replying only as "the procedure for selection of doctors and paramedics is to enable adequate health care system facilities to yatris and at the same time not to affect the smooth functioning of health institution."

According to RTI activists of the Valley, this is not first application in which information to an applicant was denied, but there are many such cases in other departments, where applicants have been denied of any sort of information and in many cases no information was given to the applicants in various Government departments about allocation and utilization of funds from the State and Central Government.

Source: http://earlytimesnews.com/newsdet.aspx?q=104356