Rather than distributing the money to individuals in need, it could be paid into community-controlled locallevel zakat committees (bait-ul mals) which, in turn, could use the resources to start education and trainingschemes and income-generation projects for the needy.Self-help cannot absolve the State of its responsibilityof providing essential services to those who need them most, nor can relief or economic development take theplace of a political solution to the Kashmir dispute, but yet, in the absence of any meaningful and sincereefforts of the State, there is much, as I have stressed, that ordinary individuals, both in Kashmir as well asoutside, can do to help relieve the suffering of thousands of hapless Kashmiris. All it takes is a modicum oftime and effort and bucket-loads of enthusiasm and concern.