JAMMU: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on December 27 laid the foundation stone to build 320 houses completely damaged during flash-floods and land-slides in Reasi district. Funded entirely by High-range Rural Development Society (HRDS, India) at an estimated cost of Rs 32 crore, the initiative will provide 320 affected families in Reasi with modern, prefabricated “Smart Houses” without any burden on the government exchequer. This is a rare occasion when rehabilitation measures for flood-affected families have been initiated so quickly and at no cost to the government.
Additionally, housing construction has been undertaken in almost all districts, after identifying the worst-affected and compiling a list to provide them with succour at the earliest. It should be noted that the government provided immediate assistance to affected families by mobilising its resources.
Earlier, Sinha laid the foundation stones for 1,869 houses for families affected by Pakistani shelling during Operation Sindoor and recent natural calamities in eight districts, including Kishtwar, Rajouri, Poonch, Udhampur, Ramban, Jammu, Kathua, and Samba. The LG praised Swami Atma Nambi, President, HRDS-India, and all the members of the NGO for their selfless contributions.
The LG stated that, with the help of HRDS India, our vision is to ensure that no family affected by a natural calamity remains weak and disadvantaged. “Houses for affected families are not just walls and roofs but they are an embodiment of dreams and aspirations and foundation for quality living and personal growth for family members. I see this movement as a new revolution and a new model for the country, where needy families are being supported without government funding. It gives us a powerful Mantra that all should work together for the common good of the UT of J&K and its people,” he said.
The noble initiative features state-of-the-art, efficient, modern, resilient, and technologically advanced three-bedroom ‘Smart Houses’. These houses are scheduled for completion within six months of foundation work and include dedicated facilities, such as cowsheds, to support rural livelihoods.
HRDS India will also provide an extensive social security package for beneficiary families. This holistic support includes 15 years of free life insurance and annual health check-ups for all family members. To ensure long-term sustainability, HRDS India will also provide maintenance of the houses for the next five years.
Sinha reiterated that it has been his sincere effort that the entire Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir achieves speedy and all-round development. “In the past five years, we have integrated physical, social, and digital components to create the best infrastructure while prioritising a people-first approach to provide dynamism to the development of UT of Jammu Kashmir,” he said.
Sinha also highlighted numerous infrastructure projects initiated over the last few years to enhance connectivity and improve the quality of life for residents of Reasi District.
Addressing the long-pending demands, he assured that work on the underground sewerage system for Katra town will commence within the next six months. The Master Plan for Katra is currently in its final stages and is slated for approval. Efforts are also intensifying to establish the Intermodal Station, he said.
Sinha lauded the CEO of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) and the entire team for their dedicated service and effective response during rescue and relief operations. He shared the series of key initiatives undertaken by the Board.
“The construction of the Shankaracharya Temple in Katra, a Rs 30 crore project, is designed to enhance the spiritual landscape while boosting local economic opportunities. This follows the Board’s successful completion of five temples in Reasi last year. The Board has made the promotion of Sanskrit and Vedic education a top priority. This is highlighted by a Rs 1.5 crore funding grant to Kathua’s Chudamani Sanskrit Santhan Nyas and ongoing support for various Sanskrit and Ved Pathshallas and Gurukuls,” he said.
The Board’s Gurukul has achieved national distinction. The sustained efforts have also earned the Shrine Board numerous national-level awards for environmental excellence.
The Board has procured Rs 22 crore worth of products from local Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in Reasi and surrounding areas, with plans to scale this partnership to Rs 50 crore. The Shrine Board remains dedicated to community service, undertaking the reconstruction of 15 schools damaged by recent floods and spending Rs 12 crore over the past seven years on the development of villages neighbouring the holy shrine.
“The construction of helipads at Katra and Shiv Khori, at Rs 27 crore, is in its final stages. These facilities, alongside the recently completed redevelopment of Shiv Khori, will soon be dedicated to the pilgrims to ensure a seamless pilgrimage experience. International Museum of the Goddess is also coming up in Katra,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
Sinha highlighted several pilgrim-centric measures taken by the Shrine Board. The insurance cover for pilgrims has been increased from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. Furthermore, the Shrine Board continues to prioritize the health of devotees, spending approximately Rs 4 crore annually toward medical treatment of pilgrims, he said.
The LG also underscored the Shrine Board’s commitment to the welfare of Baridar families. Approximately 777 families received assistance for their daughters’ marriages. Under Kanjak Samriddhi Yojana, 565 young girls were provided with long-term financial security totalling Rs 9.49 crore. Under Girl Child Adoption Scheme, 154 girls from Baridar families benefited from an outlay of Rs 3.2 crore, he further said.
Saraf Singh Nag, Chairman, District Development Council Reasi; Baldev Raj Sharma, Member of Legislative Assembly, Mata Vaishno Devi; Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Bhim Sen Tuti, IGP Jammu; Sachin Kumar Vaishya, CEO Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board; Ms Sarah Rizvi, DIG Udhampur-Reasi Range; Ms Nidhi Malik, Deputy Commissioner Reasi; Ms Vandana Pal, Associate Administrator, HRDS India, senior officers of civil and police administration and representatives of various social and political organisations attended the foundation stone laying ceremony.
