Srinagar, Oct. 26 -- Every week, another appeal lands on our phones. A patient needs treatment. A student cannot pay fees. A family faces financial ruin. Donations pour in, and lives are often saved. That generosity is admirable. But it also exposes an uncomfortable truth. Despite thousands of NGOs, trusts, and charitable groups collecting donations, Kashmir still lacks a widely trusted, professionally managed Baitul Maal supporting people before hardship becomes a public appeal. The steady stream of crowdfunding campaigns is not just a sign of compassion. It is a sign of institutional absence. Families are often forced to publicize illness, debt, and personal tragedy to seek help. A caring society responds. But dignity should not depend ...