Comprehensive support for families affected by Op Sindoor, floods, & terror violence
J&K signs MoU with HRDS India to provide 1,500 homes to disaster-hit families
Srinagar, Sept 11: In a significant welfare initiative aimed at rehabilitating families affected by natural disasters and terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, the High-range Rural Development Society (HRDS India) on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Divisional Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir for the construction of 1,500 free houses across the Union Territory.
The initiative, launched under the leadership of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, seeks to provide long-term support to families impacted by Operation Sindoor, recent floods, and terrorist violence, including unprovoked shelling on civilian populations.
The MoU signing ceremony, held at Raj Bhawan, was presided over by the Lieutenant Governor, who praised the initiative as a humanitarian step that goes beyond infrastructure and focuses on rebuilding lives.
“It is not just about putting up structures. It is about building dreams, offering a fresh start, and opening a new chapter in the lives of families who have suffered unimaginable loss. While the pain of human loss cannot be measured, this initiative will certainly ease their suffering,” the LG said.
As part of the agreement, HRDS India will construct 1,500 three-bedroom homes designed as “Smart Houses” equipped with modern features for safety, comfort, and digital access. In collaboration with BSNL, each household will receive free internet connectivity to support education and communication, with the broader goal of promoting digital inclusion among affected families.
The homes will be allocated not only to those impacted by natural calamities but also to the next of kin of terror victims, whose houses were destroyed during terrorist attacks. HRDS India, along with the Divisional Commissioners of both regions, will jointly identify the eligible families.
In addition to housing, the initiative offers a comprehensive support package that includes 15-year life insurance coverage for all family members, monthly health check-ups, and ongoing community engagement. Trained HRDS volunteers will conduct regular visits to the beneficiary households to disseminate information about government welfare schemes and deliver awareness sessions on health, hygiene, education, and preventive care.
As part of its long-term commitment, HRDS India has also pledged to repaint every beneficiary house every five years, ensuring continued upkeep at no cost to the families.
The MoU signing ceremony was attended by senior officials, including Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari, Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor; Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Anshul Garg, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; Aji Krishnan, Founder-Secretary of HRDS India; Saritha P. Menon, Administrator; Swaraj Kumar G., Director of Corporate Sponsorship; and Sanjeev Bhatnagar, Chairman of Global Initiatives, HRDS India.
