Kashmir Age: Kupwara: Saturday, 26 July 2025.
In a significant
development highlighting growing concerns over public health accountability, a
local resident of Mawer area in Kupwara district has formally sought detailed
and certified information regarding staff management, public expenditure, and
procurement in the health sector under Block Langate.
The application, filed under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, by Manzoor Ahmad Tantray, a resident of Lach-Mawar, has been addressed to the Chief Medical Officer, Kupwara, and the Block Medical Officer, Langate. The RTI covers a six-year period, from 2019 to 2025, and seeks clarity on multiple aspects of healthcare administration.
Key Information Sought
The RTI application demands:
Demand for Transparency and Timely Response:
The applicant has urged the concerned health authorities to respond within the legally mandated 30-day period and has indicated that failure to do so may result in filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) before the judiciary. “Any unjustified delay in providing the information will compel us to seek intervention of the Hon’ble Court,” Tantray said.
This RTI initiative is being viewed as part of a broader citizen-led push for transparency and accountability in governance, particularly in underdeveloped districts like Kupwara where residents have long alleged inadequate service delivery in health and infrastructure sectors.
Background
Kupwara, one of the frontier districts of Jammu and Kashmir, continues to face significant challenges in rural healthcare delivery. While numerous schemes are in place for maternal health, infant care, and rural hospital development, implementation gaps and opaque fund utilisation have repeatedly been flagged by local communities and panchayat representatives.
This RTI, if responded to in full, could offer a rare insight into the financial and administrative functioning of Block Langate’s public health institutions and potentially pave the way for course correction and enhanced oversight mechanisms.
The application, filed under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, by Manzoor Ahmad Tantray, a resident of Lach-Mawar, has been addressed to the Chief Medical Officer, Kupwara, and the Block Medical Officer, Langate. The RTI covers a six-year period, from 2019 to 2025, and seeks clarity on multiple aspects of healthcare administration.
Key Information Sought
The RTI application demands:
- Details of staff postings, transfers, and income tax compliance of health officials operating under Block Langate.
- Certified copies of appointment letters, biometric attendance records, and recruitment criteria followed for new appointments.
- Infrastructure and procurement records, specifically regarding X-ray machines installed at NTPHC Qalamabad and NTPHC Lach.
- Comprehensive financial disclosures under centrally sponsored schemes like Rogi Kalyan Samiti (RKS) and Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK).
- Audit reports, bills, utilisation certificates, and geo-tagged proof of medical equipment installations.
- Collection and expenditure reports under the Hospital Development Fund (HDF), including account statements and internal correspondence.
Demand for Transparency and Timely Response:
The applicant has urged the concerned health authorities to respond within the legally mandated 30-day period and has indicated that failure to do so may result in filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) before the judiciary. “Any unjustified delay in providing the information will compel us to seek intervention of the Hon’ble Court,” Tantray said.
This RTI initiative is being viewed as part of a broader citizen-led push for transparency and accountability in governance, particularly in underdeveloped districts like Kupwara where residents have long alleged inadequate service delivery in health and infrastructure sectors.
Background
Kupwara, one of the frontier districts of Jammu and Kashmir, continues to face significant challenges in rural healthcare delivery. While numerous schemes are in place for maternal health, infant care, and rural hospital development, implementation gaps and opaque fund utilisation have repeatedly been flagged by local communities and panchayat representatives.
This RTI, if responded to in full, could offer a rare insight into the financial and administrative functioning of Block Langate’s public health institutions and potentially pave the way for course correction and enhanced oversight mechanisms.
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