Malick Asghar Hashmi New Delhi

As winter has knocked on the Kashmir Valley making people brace for the harsh weather, including the phase of temperature dipping to sub-zero degree, a team of young doctors has begun its campaign to keep people warm.

Dr. Mohammad Salim Khan, leader of the campaign told Awaz-the Voice that this time he is getting the support of ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activists) workers and ANMs as well. “With their help, we identify families who may not have enough warm clothes for winter. We will make sure to deliver the same to them,” he said.

It was Dr. Mohammad Salim Khan’s idea that kicked off this campaign. He says in September 2014 when Kashmir faced unprecedented floods and even after the situation normalized, winters started. As Srinagar city had nearly submerged under flood waters and in villages many houses suffered damage, people had lost their belongings.

In such a situation clothing themselves for winter was a challenge for many people. Dr. Muhammad Salim Khan, head of the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine (SPM) at the Government Medical College, Srinagar, decided to do something to help the needy.

He took the initiative to collect clothes from his friends and relatives and gave them away to the needy. For the next three years, he paid no attention to this. In 2018, he restarted his campaign. At the onset of winter, he collects warm clothes for the needy.

Doctors distributing warm clothes in Kashmir

He uses social media to connect with those who can afford to donate. A WhatsApp message titled 'Appeal for warm clothes for the poor' is used for connecting the people.

Dr. Salim says that he does not keep the accounts of the donors and the beneficiaries. Every week a large quantity of warm clothes is collected and distributed with the help of doctors and his other friends. He has already a stock ready for distribution for the season.

Dr Salim says, “There is a good response this time. We are getting calls from many people who want to donate clothes. People come to our department and leave warm clothes.”

Teams of ASHA workers, ANMs, and dedicated doctors are working overtime to identify families and deliver the clothes to them at their homes. Phirans, sweaters, jackets, trousers, warm shirts, women's wear, etc. are accepted by people.

A pile of donated clothes that needs sifting and repackaging by doctors

People donate old or new clothes. Most people donate old clothes that are in good condition. Dr. Salim's team does not take torn and junk clothes.

As Dr. Salim explains our junior doctors have to do field studies as a part of their curriculum. During one of his study tours, he saw children from poor families shivering in the cold.

He was moved by their plight and decided to collect warm clothes and deliver them to deserving people.

After receiving the clothes, the doctors sit together and sort these for different age groups. The clothes are packed in plastic bags and doctors visit different localities to deliver these to needy people.

Dr. Salim says the teams visit the areas with a higher population of people living below the poverty line. The help of ASHA workers and ANMs in identifying needy people has made the campaign more efficient. However, the gift of warm clothes is always delivered by a doctor.

Most students of medical college and junior doctors linked to the campaign remain away from the media glare. This has become part of the academic work of the MBBS students and they have to document their work on this at the end of the semester.

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Dr. Khan says he is receiving help not only from doctors but from all sections of society. “Now people come to deliver clothes. Earlier the campaign used to run only in the Hazratbal area, now it is going on in many places of Srinagar,” he said.