The High-range Rural Development Society (HRDS India) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu provinces for building 1,500 houses. These houses include those damaged during Operation Sindoor in May and recent floods in Jammu Kashmir.
It is at the initiative of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha that HRDS India got involved in this reconstruction effort. This reflects his vision of empowering and safeguarding the future of those affected by natural calamities and unprovoked shelling on civilian population by the enemy.
Sinha presided over the MoU signing ceremony at Raj Bhawan in Srinagar on Friday. He lauded the noble endeavour of the HRDS India to help those affected by man-made and natural calamities.
Under these MoUs, HRDS India will build 1,500 free houses across the Union Territory (UT) of J& K. These three-bedroom houses will be designed and delivered as “smart houses’’, incorporating modern features for comfort and safety.
“Construction of houses is more than just putting up structure. It is about building dreams, a fresh start and a new chapter in the lives of affected families. Human losses have been so profound and devastating that they can’t be measured but this initiative will definitely ease their suffering,” Sinha said.
Under the initiative, the HRDS India and Divisional Commissioners of both the divisions will also identify terror victim families whose houses got destroyed by terrorists. Besides providing 15-year life insurance coverage to all family members, HRDS India will ensure monthly health check-ups and digital connectivity for every house it undertakes to construct for the affected families.
As part of its extended commitment, HRDS India, in collaboration with BSNL, will provide free internet access to all beneficiary households to support education, communication, and digital inclusion. The necessary infrastructure like connectivity and equipment will be provided by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL).
Trained HRDS India volunteers will visit each beneficiary household every month to disseminate information about new government schemes relevant to the beneficiaries. They will conduct free awareness sessions on health, education, hygiene and preventive care.
HRDS India will also undertake repainting of each beneficiary house every five years, at no cost to the beneficiaries.
Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari, Principal Secretary to LG; Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Anshul Garg, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; Aji Krishnan, Founder – Secretary, HRDS India; Saritha P Menon, Administrator; Swaraj Kumar G., Director Corporate Sponsorship and Sanjeev Bhatnagar, Chairman Global Initiatives, HRDS India, were present during the MoU Signing ceremony.
At another ceremony, Sinha inaugurated an exhibition on ‘New Criminal Laws’ at J&K Police Public School, Bemina, Srinagar. He commended the initiative of the Economic Offences Wing, J&K Police, to raise awareness and educate students, parents and the general public. He said the exhibition will help in achieving broader objectives of shaping understanding on new laws and ensuring justice to the last man in queue.
“After almost 150 years, India’s criminal justice system underwent a significant overhaul on July 1, 2024. The ‘Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita’, ‘Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita’, and ‘Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam’ were implemented nationwide to replace colonial-era laws, making the legal system more transparent and efficient.
The three new criminal laws have completely transformed our criminal justice system, making it victim-centric and more justice-oriented than punitive.
“The new criminal laws reflect India’s collective vision of justice. The prime objective of the new Laws is to protect and empower the women and weaker sections of the society. Special care has been taken to make the weaker sections, women and children priority of the justice system,” Mr Sinha said.
“For the first time since independence, terrorism has been defined within the criminal justice system. The new criminal laws will strengthen the country’s policy of zero tolerance against terrorism,” he said.
DGP Nalin Prabhat; S.J.M. Gillani, Special DG Coordination PHQ; Vidhi Kumar Birdi, IGP Kashmir; Shri Sujit Kumar, IGP Security, J&K; Shri Anshul Garg, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; senior officials of Police and Civil Administration, civil society members, teachers and students in large number were present.
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