Jammu, Dec 08 (KINS): Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday laid the foundation stone for the construction of new houses for families affected by recent natural calamities and Pakistani shelling during Operation Sindoor in Jammu district.
A total of 350 fully damaged houses will be rebuilt at a cost of Rs 35 crore, with the entire construction funded by HRDS India, a national NGO. These three-bedroom prefabricated Smart Houses, equipped with modern amenities and cow sheds, are designed to be efficient, resilient, and technologically advanced. Construction is expected to be completed within six months.
Speaking on the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor expressed gratitude to HRDS India for supporting affected families without any financial burden on the government. “These houses are being built without spending a single penny from the government treasury,” he noted.
HRDS India will also extend a comprehensive welfare package to all beneficiary families, including:Free life insurance for every family member for 15 years, Free annual health checkups, Five-year maintenance coverage for the new houses.
LG Sinha reaffirmed his commitment to uplifting the poor and transforming the socio-economic landscape of Jammu & Kashmir.
“In the past five years, lakhs of poor families have benefited, and infrastructure in backward regions has been upgraded. The rapid development of Jammu is unprecedented, and despite numerous challenges, we have achieved a strong growth trajectory,” he said.
He added that the administration is working to develop Jammu — the historic city of temples — into an inclusive, modern urban centre. A new era of accelerated development, improved mobility, and citizen-friendly services is taking shape, he said.
The Lieutenant Governor praised the district and divisional administration, Police, Army, CAPFs, Disaster Response Forces, SMVD Shrine Board, civil society volunteers, and emergency teams for their swift actions in relocating and supporting affected families during the calamity.
A total of 4,309 beneficiaries in Jammu district have received assistance, including Rs 8.22 crore in compensation. Ex-gratia relief and a government job were provided to the family of a civilian who lost his life during the unprovoked Pakistani firing in Operation Sindoor.
The beneficiary list also includes 23 families from Rah Salyote village who were affected by landslides. They have been provided food and temporary accommodation for the past three months.
The foundation stone-laying ceremony was attended by Swami Atma Nambi, President HRDS India; DDC Chairman Bharat Bhushan; Members of Legislative Assembly; Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo; DGP Nalin Prabhat; Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar; IGP Jammu BhimSen Tuti; DIG Jammu-Samba-Kathua Shiv Kumar Sharma; Deputy Commissioner Jammu Dr. Rakesh Minhas; senior officials, civil society members, and affected families.(KINS)
