Srinagar, Jul 08: Several important government websites in Kashmir have remained non-functional for nearly two months, severely impacting beneficiaries of key social welfare schemes, including the Golden Card and Marriage Assistance Scheme (MAS).
As reported by Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the disruption of digital services has created a crisis for many low-income families who depend on online registration to avail benefits. The Food Supplies Department’s portal is also down, affecting registration for essential services like ration cards.
Patients suffering from chronic health issues have been hit especially hard. Many are unable to apply for or renew Golden Cards, which are essential for accessing government-funded healthcare. With the system offline, some patients have had to seek treatment at private hospitals, often beyond their financial reach.
Similarly, the Marriage Assistance Scheme, which provides financial aid to economically weak families for daughters’ weddings, is also stalled due to the non-functional online portal. As registration is required at least one month prior to marriage, many eligible applicants are at risk of missing out on assistance if weddings proceed without prior enrollment.
Several affected citizens have demanded clarity and action from the government to prevent further exclusion of beneficiaries.
When contacted, Minister Sakina Itoo, who oversees the concerned departments, acknowledged the issue. “We are aware that many portals are currently down, and this is causing hardship, particularly for the poor. The matter is on my radar, and I will be discussing it with the department officials,” she said.
She added, “If the portals cannot be restored soon, we may have to explore offline alternatives to ensure services continue.”
Specifically addressing the Golden Card issue, Itoo said that registration is linked to ration card data, which is also inaccessible due to the system failure. “We recognize this is a serious matter. A detailed assessment will be carried out to understand the full extent of those affected and to identify workable solutions,” she assured.
