Peoples Democratic Party MLA Waheed Ur Rehman Parra has submitted a notice in the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly to introduce a private member’s bill titled the “Jammu and Kashmir Reconciliation, Trauma Healing and Dignity Bill, 2026” during the upcoming Budget Session from February 2.

The proposed legislation aims to create a statutory framework for trauma healing, psychosocial rehabilitation, dignity restoration and restorative dialogue for people affected by decades of violence, conflict and instability in the Union Territory. It seeks to work through existing public health institutions in alignment with the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017.

The bill notes that despite a decline in violence since 2019, the psychological trauma, displacement, grief, loss of dignity and erosion of social trust endured by various sections of society — including Kashmiri Muslims, Kashmiri Pandits and security personnel — requires humane and forward-looking measures to consolidate peace.

It emphasizes that peace is more than just the absence of violence; it must mean the ability of individuals and communities to live with dignity and resolve grievances peacefully. Under the proposal, services will be voluntary, confidential and delivered by qualified mental health professionals.

A financial memorandum attached to the bill estimates an initial cost of ₹50 crore for mental health services, training, community programmes and monitoring funding to be provided through the Union Territory government’s budget allocations.