Out of shell shock, people in Kupwara’s Karnah caught in governance conundrum

Srinagar, Feb 07: For years, the breathtaking Valley of Karnah, nestled along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district, bore the scars of relentless shelling from across the border forcing half of its population to migrate to Srinagar parts for cover. With peace prevailing on the borders, majority of the Karnah residents have come out with the haunting memories of the past but continue to find themselves trapped in the governance conundrum.
The 2021 ceasefire pact between India and Pakistan changed everything in this picturesque place. Peace, a long-elusive dream for the people of Karnah, became a reality after both countries agreed to stick to the ceasefire agreement religiously.
Between 2005 to 2015, almost half of the Karnah’s population fled to Srinagar parts for shelter due to intense shelling from across the border that claimed lives, destroyed property and left scores of people handicapped forever. Now that all those who migrated are back to the roots, they feel frustrated over rising governance related issues.
Karnah Assembly constituency is facing serious issues of communication, staff shortage in all government departments besides an acute shortage of teachers in schools. Proper healthcare is still a distant dream even as public transport is something which people can only dream of.
Even as the majority of people are busy in farming activities especially that of corn, which earlier was impossible due to round the clock shelling and roaring gun sounds, but unemployment is touching new heights. In an exclusive conversation with the Rising Kashmir, MLA Karnah Javaid Mirchal said as every legislator has a dream about his/her constituency, so has he.
“There is no doubt that peace is prevailing along the borders post 2021 ceasefire pact. Normal life continues to remain disrupted due to the scores of governance issues,” Mirchal said. “As an MLA I am not even able to get a Naib Tehsildar appointed or transferred let alone addressing the other concerns of people of my constituency.”
Mirchal blamed the dual power system for long delays in getting peoples issues resolved. “Guns may have fallen silent but concerns remain the same. My area lacks proper roads and mobile connectivity is a major issue,” he said. Adding, “The number of unemployed youth in my area is rising with each passing day.”
He said all schools in Karnah lack staff and proper facilities for students, especially female students. The MLA expressed his helplessness stating that “despite having an elected government, he isn’t able to fulfil peoples’ demands.”
Former Sarpanch of village Gabra, Ghulam Mustafa said that public transport remains inadequate, forcing residents to rely on private vehicles or walk long distances. “Ration depots struggle to meet the needs of families. The absence of fire tenders poses a grave threat, especially in a place where harsh winters make wooden homes highly vulnerable,” he said. “Healthcare remains rudimentary, with only a handful of medical facilities struggling to cater to the growing population.”
Mustafa said that in absence of proper communication, introducing electronic devices for fetching rations is no fun. “Elderly people and women have to wait in long queues to submit their fingerprints for ration. Many return home without doing fingerprints as machines don’t work properly,” he said.
Mirchal said all the demands of locals are based on logic. “I have a medical facility in my area but there is no surgeon-specialist, an orthopedician and a paediatrician. All schools and government departments lack staff. Transport is a distant dream. ATM facility is at district headquarter Kupwara,” he said.
“In a scenario where local representatives aren’t able to do what they were voted for, one can only hope for the best days ahead,” he added.