Yogesh
Jammu, Sep 22 : In a heartfelt display of philanthropy, veteran Bollywood actor and social activist Nana Patekar led a delegation from his Nirmala Gajanan Foundation to Rajouri on Monday, distributing rehabilitation cheques totalling Rs 42 lakh to 117 families devastated by cross-border shelling during Operation Sindoor.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the event, held at Rajouri Garrison, saw Patekar and fellow trustees personally hand over the aid packages to affected residents from Rajouri and neighbouring Poonch district.
The initiative, conducted in association with the Indian Army, targets families who suffered significant losses—ranging from damaged homes and livelihoods to personal tragedies—in the wake of the military operation earlier this year, which involved intense exchanges along the Line of Control (LoC).
“Nirmala Gajanan Foundation is committed to standing with our border heroes and their families in times of need,” Patekar said during the ceremony, emphasising the foundation’s roots in compassion.
Named after his late parents, Nirmala and Gajanan, the NGO has long championed education and healthcare projects across India, including the recent adoption of 45 Army Goodwill Schools in Jammu to bolster community resilience.
The distribution was attended by military officials, civil administrators, and the beneficiaries themselves, fostering a sense of solidarity.
One recipient, a mother of three from Poonch whose home was shelled during the operation, expressed profound gratitude. “This aid will help us rebuild our lives. Nana ji’s kindness gives us hope,” she said.
Hundreds of civilian families in Rajouri and Poonch are grappling with displacement and economic hardship after the cross-border shelling destroyed their houses during India’s four-day conflict with Pakistan in April earlier this year.
After distributing the cheques, Patekar urged greater national focus on border welfare, calling for sustained support beyond immediate crises—(KNO)
