Bengaluru : The Government of Jammu & Kashmir has launched a landmark rehabilitation initiative to provide free housing for families affected by the Pahalgam terror attack, under the continued framework of Operation Sindhoor. A total of 1,500 smart houses will be constructed, marking the first project of its kind in the nation’s history.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed yesterday between the Government of Jammu & Kashmir and HRDS India, in the presence of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhavan, Srinagar. The MoU was signed by Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar IAS and Additional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg IAS on behalf of the Government, and by Founder Secretary Aji Krishnan on behalf of HRDS India.
The initiative was conceptualized under the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who entrusted HRDS India with its execution, with support from the Ministry of Defence under Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
The smart homes, each measuring 702 sq. ft. and comprising two floors with three bedrooms, will be equipped with modern facilities. The project will also provide:
- Free internet access (in collaboration with BSNL)
- Healthcare and educational awareness programs
- Sanitation and hygiene training
- Free repainting of homes every five years
- Volunteer visits to share government welfare schemes
- A 30-year guarantee for all homes
Beneficiaries will include families who lost their homes in the Pahalgam attack, next of kin of victims, families affected by terrorist attacks and armed conflicts since 1947, and those whose homes were destroyed in recent floods.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha described the initiative as “a model project reflecting the Prime Minister’s visionary leadership and opening new doors of humanity.”
For more than 30 years, HRDS India has been engaged in developmental work for marginalized and tribal communities, including successful free housing projects across 20 states. Founder Secretary Aji Krishnan affirmed that the organization’s experience in large-scale housing projects forms the foundation for this historic mission.