Srinagar, May 30 -- He walks through the tall hospital gates like many others do in Kashmir: with hope, worry, and very little money in his pocket.

A labourer, not by choice but by necessity, he has worked with his hands all his life. His wife fell ill months ago. The pain didn't go away. After endless visits to clinics and government hospitals, doctors told him she needed surgery.

That's when his real struggle began.

He earns 700 rupees a day, if he's lucky. On a good month, working 25 days, he brings home about 17,500 rupees. But life has its bills.

Transport costs him at least 2,000 rupees a month. Another thousand goes to personal needs. What's left is about 14,500 rupees, and that has to feed a family. It also has to stretch far ...