Srinagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced a Rs 745-crore package for renovation of houses and six major hospitals damaged by the recent unprecedented floods in Jammu and Kashmir.
Asserting that the government stands with the people of Jammu and Kashmir in rehabilitation works, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced Rs. 570 crore for rebuilding homes in Kashmir and Rs. 175 crore for six major hospitals worst affected by the floods.
Prime Minister Modi, who met Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra at the Raj Bhavan here, also announced that books and notebooks would be provided to thousands of schoolchildren.
"I came here on September 7 when I had declared a package of 1,000 crores for the flood victims, and I have come here again to take stock of the situation and understand the primary issues. People have demanded that the help extended by government reaches them directly. I have assured them that it will be considered and we will be having discussions on it," said Prime Minister Modi.
"I spent the entire day in meeting locals, many business and social delegations and had a closer look at issues of people, which was the purpose of this visit," he added.
Prime Minister Modi, who arrived in Srinagar after his visit to the Siachen Base Camp, had one to one meeting with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during which he was briefed about the challenge of reconstructing Jammu and Kashmir and rehabilitating the flood-affected families.
Read: ‘You make it possible for all Indians to celebrate', PM Modi tells jawans in Siachen
Prime Minister Modi also met top officers of the state.
Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Modi while addressing the officers and jawans of the Indian Armed Forces at Siachen Base Camp recalled the immense contribution made by them during the recent floods in Srinagar.
Prime Minister Modi praised their valour and courage, saying that 125 crore Indians could celebrate Diwali today, and go about their lives in comfort, because the jawans stood guard at the borders, prepared to make every sacrifice for the nation.
"The nation is proud of all three wings of the armed forces," he added.
He said he is privileged that his first Diwali as Prime Minister will be spent partly with the jawans of Siachen, and partly with those affected by the floods in Srinagar.
Watch: Narendra Modi addresses soldiers in Siachen
