07/07/2025
Dangerpora Hospital Row.
In 2002, when I was elected as the MLA from Sopore, I began a mission to strengthen the basic infrastructure of our region—especially in the health sector, which had long been neglected. With dedicated efforts, I sanctioned several important hospitals including Rampora Hospital, Botingoo Hospital, and Dangerpora Hospital, Bomai Hospital , Tujer Shareef Hospital. These projects were conceived not for political gain but out of genuine concern for the people's well-being. I believed then, and still believe, that accessible healthcare is not a privilege—it is a right. In 2007, I had the honour of laying the foundation stone of Dangerpora Hospital, a centrally located facility meant to benefit a large population from various villages.
In the 2008 Assembly elections, I lost my seat and the NC government came to power. Unfortunately, during their regime from 2008 to 2014, no substantial work was done on these crucial health projects. This period of inaction proved costly for the community, as much-needed healthcare infrastructure remained incomplete.
When the people re-elected me in 2014, I once again took these pending projects forward with a renewed sense of responsibility. The second story of Dangerpora Hospital was constructed during this time, and work was progressing well. But before it could reach completion, the government collapsed and Jammu & Kashmir came under central rule, which continued till 2025. In these uncertain times, many public development works were either paused or delayed due to lack of an elected government.
During both of my tenures, I did not limit my focus to just one area. My aim has always been holistic development—be it healthcare, education, roads, water supply, or electricity—with equal attention to all corners of Sopore, irrespective of political or personal affiliations. I have always remained among the people, even outside office, and my commitment to them has never wavered.
Being an illiterate person, I did what many literate and highly educated leaders could not do for the territorial constituency of Sopore. I relied on my dedication, sincerity, and connection with the ground realities to work for the people.
Today, I feel content that Rampora Hospital, Bomai Hospital, and Tujer Shareef Hospital has finally become functional, though it took far longer than it should have. Botingoo Hospital was made functional only last year, after years of delay. Sadly, Dangerpora Hospital remains exactly as it was left in 2016—unfinished and abandoned. Over time, it has been forcibly turned into a hub for drug addicts and anti-social elements, which is both painful and dangerous for our youth and society.
I do not seek credit or applause for these projects; they were never about me. But I do believe that if the NC government from 2008 to 2014 had shown even minimal interest in continuing the work, the hospitals could have been operational many years ago, and countless people would have benefited.
This is not a statement of blame, but a reminder that development suffers when politics overtakes public service. Let us all—regardless of party or position—work for the people with sincerity and humility, so that future generations inherit not just speeches, but real, lasting change.
— Haji Abdul Rashid Dar
