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K.D. Maini Kishtwar District comprises of snow covered summits, mead- ows, green valleys, glens, rivers, streams, agriculture fields, saf- fron beds, apple gardens, people of various races, religions and sects. Due to its natural beauty Kishtwar is known as Kashmir- e- Sageer (Mini-Kashmir). Kishtwar is the least populated district of J&K state after Kargil and Leh. It came into existence on 1st April 2007 AD. The total geo- graphical area of the district is 7737 Sqr. Km. Zanskar range of mountain bifurcates the dis- trict from Kargil in the northern side. LohalSapi- ti district of Himachal Pardesh is located on north eastern side, the district is bounded by Anantnag district of Kashmir valley in the north western side and Doda district is located in the western side. Administratively the district is divided into four tehsils namely tehsil Padder, Chatroo, Kishtwar and Marwah. Two assem- bly segments namely Kishtwar and Inderwal, 157 villages and 134 Panchayats. The total population of the district as per census 2011 is 277976 souls. The growth rate between 2001 to 2011 AD was 21.06% while the sex ratio was 938 females for every 1000 males. The district comprises of various religions, sects and races including Hindus and Mus- lims while there are some pockets in Padder tehsil which are inhabited by Buddhists. The main languages spoken in the district are Kishtwari, Kashmiri and Dogri while some Buddhist people also speak Bodhi language. The main crops of the district are maize, paddy, wheat and saffron. Saffron of district Kishtwar is said to be of superior quality than of Kashmir. The district is also known for Nee- lam Ores which are located in Padder tehsil. Kishtwar is going to be one of the biggest pow- ers generating area of the state. 350 megawatts Dhulhasti hydel project on Chinab River has started functioning while 850 megawatts Ratlay Hydel project is under con- struction. The survey of other three powers town which are considered the most important time Rajputs, Bhrahmans and other communi- the last Raja of this dynasty. In 1821 AD Gulab Udhampur District and then Doda District for project has been completed. These power Shrines of this region. The Muslim population ties entered Kishtwar valley and settled there. Singh on the order of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh pretty long time as a tehsil. In 2007 Kishtwar projects shall be the back bone of the econo- of district Kishtwar and abroad assembles As per Kalhana, Kalasha (1063 to 1089 AD) the captured Kishtwar. He appointed Miyan emerged as a new district of J&K State. my of the people of Kishtwar in future. The dis- here on the eve of Urs Sharief and participate king of Kashmir had convened a meeting of the Chand Singh as Kardar. Later on he was Kishtwar remained the center of culture trict has vast potential of religious adventures in Urs ceremonies. The Urs of Hazrat Shah Rajas of eight outer hill states surrounding replaced by Mehta Basti Ram. In 1922 AD and literature for centuries together. The and scenic tourism. Presently tourist recep- Fareed-Ud-Din is celebrated on 21st June Kashmir valley to discuss the defense of this Gulab Singh became the Raja of Jammu and Sajada Nasheen of Asthan Sharief Hazarat tion center is available at Kishtwar town while every year. Kishtwar Development Authority is region from invaders. These Rajas includes the in 1823 AD Raja Gulab Singh appointed Sayed Mohd Israr-Ud-Din namely Hazaraat guest houses and rest houses are being con- engaged in creating infrastructural facilities for illustrious raja Uttam Raj of Kasthavata (the Zorawar Singh as Governor of Kishtwar who Nasir-Ud-Din who belongs to Qasmia family structed at Senthon top and Chatroo area for the connivances of yatries and pilgrims. present hill district Kishtwar). Therefore in 11th remained in power up to 1841 AD. In 1836, had translated the history of Kishtwar from century AD the name of this region was Kastha- the convenience of scenic tourist. Two impor- The principal town of the district is Kisht- Zorawar Singh decided to invade Ladakh and Sanskrit to person. In 20th century AD, there tant Yatras namely Machail Yatra and Sarthal vata. With the passage of time this name war which is also the headquarter of the dis- capture Padder area. He made four attempts were number of literary and cultural personal- Devi Yatra are organized in the district every trict. The town is situated on the left bank on changed from Kasthavata to Kartawar and then from 1836 to 1841 AD to capture Ladakh. ities which include Peer Ghulam Mohi-Ud-Din, year. Machail Yatra of Chari Mubarak starts Chander Bagha (Chinab) river on the eleva- from Kartawar to Kishtwar. However in Kash- Finally, he captured Ladakh with the active Peer Bahav-Ud-Din, Khawaja Ghulam from Chunot Temple in Bhadarwah, halts at tion of 5300 feet above the sea level. The town miri language the name Kartawar is still popu- supports of Kishtwaries and uprooted cen- Rasool Kangar, Ishrat Kashmiri, Ghulam Wasuki Nag Darbar and then leads towards is surrounded by Dhool Dhar range on the lar. Rasool Nishat, Kashmiri Lal Roop, Hans Raj turies old Namgyal dynasty of Ladakh. Then Machail in Padder tehsil. The road is available northern side. Nagnashver top in the eastern As per the historical facts from 11th centu- Wazir, Wali Mohd Asheer Kishtwari, Ghulam Zorawar Singh became more ambitious and up to Ghulab Garh. Beyond that the Yatries side,Put Nag top in the western side while ry AD to 18th century AD Kishtwar principal- Nabi Dhul Wall, Chander Parkash Chander. In marched towards Tibet but he faced tough have to travel on foot for two days to reach Kalash series of mountain is in the southern ity was governed by 45 Raja's. During the 1935 AD Bazme-e-Adab Kishtwar was estab- Machail temple. Sarthal Devi is about 20 km side. reign of Raja Jay Singh (1656 to 1763AD) a resistance and unfavorable climatic condi- lished under the presidentship of Ghulam from Kishtwar town. Large number of Yatries Kishtwar is considered the most ancient civ- Muslim saint Hazarat Fareed Ud Din Qadri tions and was finally killed by Tibetinas on 12 Hyder Qaiser. Khawaja Ghulam Nabi Dhull from Bhadarwah, Doda, Kishtwar and abroad ilization of this region. It is believed that this with his four disciples entered Kishtwar for December 1941 at Davo. In 1842 MiyanTiva Wall was prominent cultural name of Kishtwar. participate in these yatras. There are two region was inhabited by Nag tribes who had spreading Islam. Raja Jay Singh was so influ- Singh became the administrator of Kishtwar. Presently Wali Mohd Asheer Kishtwari is a important Muslim Shirines in Kishtwar name- migrated from Kashmir to Kishtwar. Later on enced from Hazarat Fareed-Ud-Din Qadri that When Ghulab Singh became the Maharaja of famous historian and author of number of Urdu ly Shrine of Hazrat Shah Fareed-Ud-Din Aryans, defeated them and established their he embraced Islam with the name of Bukhta- Jammu & Kashmir in 1846 Kishtwar region and English Books. He is contribution towards Baghdadi and Hazrat Shah Israr-Ud-Din. principality and the original Nag tribes had tak- yar Khan. He and his descendants ruled Kisht- became the part of new state. After independ- history, culture and literature of Jammu en refuge in remote area. With the passage of These two Shrines are located in Kishtwar war up to 1821AD. Raja Mohd Teg Singh was ence Kishtwar remained firstly the part of province is remarkable. Ailing Health Centres of Poonch Basharat Hussain Shah cynical Karim. Another resident of the village, Abdul Rashid, says that Earlier this July, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated the villagers have gone to the authorities several timesre- his Government's priority on upgrading health care facili- questing them to resolve the issue but haven't received ties in tertiary hospitals so that patients do not have to go any response from them. outside the state for treatment. Now being run from a rented shop, the Centre houses "The Government is keen to further upgrade the facil- doctors working here under distressful conditions. These ities in SKIMS (Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sci- vary from having less space to claustrophobia in the hot, ences) and other tertiary hospitals... Modernization of humid weather. health sector is being carried forward by the Government In other Panchayats like Kilsan, however, it gets even on priority," he said, chairing the 41st Governing Body worse. The relatively larger population is left to fend for Meeting of SKIMS in Srinagar.During the past five years, itself without a Center at all. Patients from the ten wards he announced, various initiatives had been taken to of Kilsan Panchayat cover a distance of two kilometers on upgrade and modernize facilities at SKIMS and other foot to reach the Tanda bus stand where a private practi- health institutions, besides extending health care facilities tioner offers health services. In case of serious health prob- in urban as well as rural areas. lems, they have no option other than visiting the district Exaggeration is accepted as an inherent quality of hospital at Poonch. every political statement made regarding the good work As per statistics issued by the Health Department, there done, irrespective of the Government concerned. In this are only 1907 sub centers against the required 3044,clear- case, Omar Abdullah, referring to the extension of health ly indicating the shortage of 1137 sub centers in the services to rural areas, is clearly oblivious to the ground region.Another issue plaguing the health care services in reality. As far as rural people are concerned, there is only Poonch is the shortage of staff at these centers. The num- one reality - the farther the village, the poorer will be the ber of female community health workers in sub centes services. across Poonch District is 3941 while the male health work- Two hundred and fifty kilometers from Jammu, the win- ers are 541. There are only 845 doctors in the Primary ter capital of Jammu and Kashmir, the border district of Poonch and its villages are a perfect example of how dis- Health Centers (PHC) with 705 Pharmacists available to tance is directly proportional to the poor implementation cater to the health of the people of Poonch. According to of schemes. Despite being an area with tough geography the information retrieved from PHC Magnad, every sub- and sensitive strategic location, the healthcare services center is supposed to have four workers but at Khanetar provided to the inhabitants are nowhere close to adequate. sub center there are only three workers with no cleaning Many border-villages in Poonch district face difficulties staff. Doctors have to arrange for someone to get the cen- with regard to healthcare. Many villages are devoid of a ter cleaned. And here's the irony: Khanetar was declared health center and if a health center is present, its effec- Under construction Ayurvedic center at Khanetar a 'Model Village' in 2012 but is yet to be acquainted with tiveness is marred by many issues such as irregular staff, quality services. shortage of staff, non-availability of medicines, infrastruc- Of the four, one is being run from a private house near to start functioning. A fresh example for this is the Salotri Many political leaders, including Rural Development tural problem and a lot more. the Khanetar High School as no separate building has sub center located near the Zero Line, where the building and PanchayatiRaj Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar, Sports Ten kilometers from District Headquarters Poonch is a been constructed for the center. The Sub centers at Dupri- was constructed long ago but is yet to start offering serv- minister TajMohi-ud-din, Former Member of Parliament village called Khanetar. Inhabited by a population of fifteen an and Dilera too are operated from shops. One can only ices to the inhabitants due to a disagreement between the Madan Lal Sharma and Minister for Roads and Building thousand, this village is considered to be one of the largest imagine the quality of services provided at these centers land lord and the Government. Department Abdul Majid Wanihave visited the village, but villages of Poonch and is divided into three panchayats - which do not even have a building of their own. According to Abdul Karim, a local resident, the condi- the villagers are still waiting for the issues affecting the Dupriyan, Kilsan and Dilera. Every panchayat consists of In some locations, the building has been constructed tion of the building is deteriorating day-by-day. "The build- lives to be resolved. 10 wards with four health centers distributed across thirty by the Government, but owing to issues related to mone- ing has become a safe haven for dogs and jackals that (Writer is a student of Government Degree College, Poonch.) wards. tary compensation to the owner of the land, they are yet enter the building through the dilapidated doors,"says a (Charkha Featurers)