The Jammu and Kashmir government has recently announced that it will provide plots of five Marlas (around 1275 sq. ft.) to families that were left house-less and landless by the recent floods, which is a policy that goes beyond rebuilding homes. It is about rebuilding lives, restoring dignity and laying a firm flag of hope for the future.
The true character of a society only appears in adversity. And is not only based on how quick it is back on its feet, but demonstrated by the level of care and sense of injustice it felt for the people affected.
This is a stroke of mastery in caring governance, for years, the most vulnerable of victims of nature’s disruption, have been victims without land to call home.
When the flood reduces, homeowners could with time and support, rebuilt their homes from the plot they rented. But for landless, it was doubly disastrous for them, both homeless and without land to re-establish themselves. They faced real fear of going through life without a safe new place to live, indefinitely suspended in uncertainty.
By completely targeting this class of people, the government is filling an existing gap with the most important shout-out in the rehabilitation of disaster affected homes. This is not merely relief but empowerment.
The distribution of a 5-marla plot is a strong symbol of permanence and belonging. It has moved beneficiaries from the margins to the center of community life; it gives them a physical stake in the community’s future.
This land is more than merely dirt. It is a substrate of a new life. It is a site in which a family can finally put down roots by building a home they know will not be washed away, a place where children can grow up feeling the depth of belonging and safety.
Home ownership creates stronger ties to both their village and town, creating a sense of collectively to lift all of the region.
Moreover, this creates a compounding, positive effect on the local economy. The home building will create jobs for local laborers, brick makers and carpenters.
As a result, it will create enhancement of demand in local businesses for building materials. As new neighbourhoods begin construction, the neighbourhoods will also require infrastructure, roads and lights, creating further development in this space and creating a compound positive result.
This represents a central example of a welfare policy that is designed to create virtuous cycles of development and stability.
