Kashmiri pandits get 1,416 new houses: LG says valley’s heritage needs their return

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has inaugurated 1,416 residential flats for Kashmiri Pandit employees working under the Prime Minister’s employment package, describing their safe and dignified return as vital to the Valley’s cultural identity.

The main inauguration took place at Zewan, near Srinagar, where 936 flats have been completed across 39 residential blocks.

Housing complexes at Kakan Maran in Budgam and Kulangam Bagh in Kupwara were also opened through a virtual ceremony. The newly inaugurated facilities bring the total number of completed flats across the three locations to 1,416.

The broader accommodation programme aims to provide 6,000 flats across 20 locations in 10 districts of the Valley. More than 5,200 units have been completed, while over 3,800 have already been allotted to eligible employees.

Addressing the gathering, Sinha said Kashmiri Pandits had made significant contributions to the region’s literature, spirituality and cultural traditions.

He described the housing facilities as an important step towards helping families live securely while working in the Valley. Kashmiri Pandits left the region in large numbers following the outbreak of militancy in 1990, with many settling in Jammu, Delhi and other parts of India.

For employees who have spent years waiting for government accommodation, the new flats offer an opportunity to bring their families closer.