Srinagar, September 11 : 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 houses damaged during Operation Sindoor and the recent floods in the Union Territory.
The initiative, launched under the vision of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, aims to support families affected by natural calamities, unprovoked shelling on civilian areas, and terror violence. The MoU signing ceremony was held at Raj Bhawan, where the Lieutenant Governor lauded HRDS India for what he termed a step toward rebuilding lives and providing long-term security to affected families.
HRDS India will construct 1,500 free houses across Jammu and Kashmir. Each unit will be a three-bedroom “Smart House,” equipped with modern safety and comfort features. Alongside housing, the initiative extends to health, education, digital connectivity, and social welfare.
“Construction of houses is more than just putting up a structure. It is about building dreams, a fresh start, and a new chapter in the lives of affected families. Human losses are so profound and devastating that they cannot be measured, but this initiative will ease their suffering,” LG Sinha said.
Under the plan, HRDS India and the Divisional Commissioners of both divisions will also identify families of terror victims whose homes were destroyed in violence. In addition to the houses, each beneficiary family will receive 15 years of life insurance coverage for all members, regular monthly health check-ups, and free digital connectivity.
To promote digital inclusion, HRDS India, in collaboration with BSNL, will provide free internet access to every beneficiary household, enabling better access to education and communication. Trained HRDS India volunteers will visit each house monthly to share updates on government schemes, besides conducting awareness sessions on health, education, hygiene, and preventive care.
As part of its long-term commitment, HRDS India has also pledged to repaint each beneficiary house every five years at no cost.
The MoU signing was attended by 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 Corporate Sponsorship; and Sanjeev Bhatnagar, Chairman Global Initiatives of HRDS India.
