Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday launched the distribution of houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) in Odisha, with the Centre sanctioning an additional one lakh houses for the state. With this, the total number of houses sanctioned for Odisha under the scheme has increased to five lakh.
The announcement was made during a state-level programme held in Balangir on Saturday. Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was present at the event.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Majhi said providing a permanent roof over every family’s head remains the highest priority of his government. He emphasised that a pucca house is not merely a structure made of bricks and cement but a symbol of dignity, security and a foundation for a better future. “Development of a prosperous Odisha begins with its villages. Our government is committed to ensuring that every family has a secure pucca house,” the Chief Minister said.
According to the Chief Minister, more than 41 lakh pucca houses have been completed in Odisha under various rural housing schemes since the 2014-15 financial year. Of these, over 5.66 lakh houses have been constructed in the last two years alone.
Under PMAY-G, a total of 28.06 lakh houses have been sanctioned for Odisha, of which 25.58 lakh have already been completed. The scheme also facilitates access to basic amenities such as toilets, piped drinking water, LPG connections and electricity.
Majhi said the Centre had earlier sanctioned four lakh houses for Odisha and has now approved another one lakh for the financial year 2026-27. He thanked the Union Minister for the additional allocation and urged the Centre to sanction another one lakh houses to meet the state’s housing requirements.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the progress of other housing initiatives in Odisha. Under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN), 35,635 of the 41,075 houses sanctioned for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) families have been completed.
Similarly, under the state’s Antyodaya Gruha Yojana, launched on March 30, 2025, against a target of 2.25 lakh houses, around 1.47 lakh have been completed. The scheme covers Forest Rights Act beneficiaries, families with differently-abled primary breadwinners, destitute people and widows.
The Chief Minister announced that the scheme’s implementation period would be extended by another two years, until 2029, to accommodate more beneficiaries. The extension is expected to facilitate the construction of an additional 2,91,666 houses.
He also highlighted the incentive provisions for beneficiaries who complete their houses within stipulated deadlines. Those completing construction within five months receive an incentive of Rs 35,000, while those completing it within seven months are eligible for Rs 20,000. So far, around 11.35 lakh beneficiaries have benefited from such incentives.
Agri varsity to come up in Balangir
Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister said he had come to Odisha not as a guest but as a public servant. He announced that a pilot project aimed at eliminating poverty, initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in different states, would be launched in Odisha from Balangir district.
Chouhan also assured that more houses would be sanctioned for Odisha in the future and said every village in the state would be connected through pucca roads. He praised the state government’s efforts and expressed confidence that all eligible beneficiaries would receive the benefits of PMAY-G without any irregularities.
Highlighting the importance of modern agricultural practices, the Union Minister said traditional farming must be complemented with modern technology. He also expressed confidence that the upcoming agricultural university in Balangir would emerge as one of the leading institutions in the country.
Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo stressed the importance of agri-tourism and the installation of agro-solar panels to improve agricultural productivity and power generation. He said efforts would be made to link PMAY-G with the PM Surya Ghar Yojana to ensure the installation of solar panels on house rooftops.
Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Naik said the government was committed to providing pucca houses to all eligible families within the stipulated timeframe. He also highlighted initiatives to construct Kalyan Mandaps, playgrounds and ponds in every panchayat.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling said a house represents dignity for women and security for families. He added that the government was also working to ensure safe drinking water and road connectivity in every village.
Apart from the housing programme, Chief Minister Majhi inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 248 development projects worth approximately Rs 911 crore for Balangir district. Of the total projects, 160 projects worth around Rs 176 crore were inaugurated, while foundation stones were laid for 88 projects worth approximately Rs 735 crore.
The projects cover health infrastructure, drinking water supply, irrigation, Anganwadi centres, additional classrooms, road improvement and hostels, among other sectors.
Balangir MP Sangeeta Singh Deo, Kantabanji MLA Laxman Bag, Titlagarh MLA Naveen Kumar Jain, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department Commissioner-cum-Secretary Rupa Mishra and Balangir Collector Gaurav Shivaji Ishalwar were among those present at the programme held at the premises of Maa Pataneswari Temple.
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