Leh: Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Kargil, Dr. Mohd Jaffer Akhoon, today sought the appointment of a Nodal Officer to assist patients from Kargil referred to SKIMS, GMC Jammu, and Srinagar, and the provision of registrarship for doctors after completing postgraduate medical education. These were among the key demands he raised during his meeting with the Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, Omar Abdullah.
Dr. Akhoon highlighted the difficulties patients from Kargil face in accessing specialized medical care outside the district and called for dedicated support systems to ease their treatment process. He also strongly advocated for prioritized admissions for Kargil-based students in paramedical institutes across J&K, pointing to the lack of such facilities in Ladakh.
He submitted a detailed memorandum that also included other public welfare issues. These included the functionality of student hostels in Srinagar and Jammu, along with requests for improved inter-departmental coordination. Dr. Akhoon appealed for a special admission quota for Kargil students in undergraduate and postgraduate courses in universities of Kashmir and Jammu, citing challenges related to domicile and financial constraints.
He also flagged sewerage problems in hostels, issues around NOC for unused tourist bungalows in Kargil villages under JKTDC since 2019, and the transfer of land under Jammu Development Authority to LAHDC Kargil for public use.
Another significant issue raised was the hardship faced by Kargil taxi operators due to the lack of designated parking spaces in Srinagar and Jammu. Dr. Akhoon requested that land be earmarked for parking, patient sarais, and additional student hostels to accommodate the growing number of Kargil residents in the two cities. He also proposed land allotment for a graveyard for the Kargil community in both Jammu and Srinagar—critical during winter months when the Zojila Pass remains closed.
Besides governance matters, Dr. Akhoon also held discussions with the Chief Minister on party-related issues. The Chief Minister assured a patient and sympathetic hearing and promised that all the concerns raised would be reviewed and acted upon appropriately.
During his visit, Dr. Akhoon also met with the Minister for Health and Education, Ms. Sakina Itoo, to discuss key challenges related to healthcare and education for the people of Kargil. He requested the Minister’s active cooperation to address the issues mentioned in the memorandum.
This visit marks a continued effort by LAHDC Kargil to push for comprehensive welfare measures for the people of the district through sustained engagement with the leadership in Jammu & Kashmir.
