Bhubaneswar/Balangir: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi Saturday launched the distribution of houses among beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) across the state.
He also inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for development projects worth Rs 911 crore in Balangir district.
The programme in Balangir was attended by Union Minister for Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan and other dignitaries.
Odisha was initially sanctioned four lakh houses under PMAY-G. Chouhan said he approved an additional one lakh houses following a request from CM Majhi to meet the state’s requirements.
Addressing the programme, CM Majhi said a pucca house was not merely a structure but a symbol of dignity, security and a better future for families living in kutcha houses.
Since 2014-15, more than 41 lakh rural houses have been constructed in Odisha under various housing schemes, including 5.66 lakh in the last two years, he said.
Of the 28.06 lakh houses sanctioned for the state under PMAY-G, 25.58 lakh have been completed, CM Majhi said, adding that the houses have basic facilities such as toilets, piped drinking water, cooking gas and electricity.
Citing World Bank data, the Chief Minister said nearly 50 crore people in the country had come out of extreme poverty over the past 12 years due to welfare schemes implemented by the Narendra Modi government at the Centre.
CM Majhi said 35,635 houses had been completed for beneficiaries from Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN).
Under the state’s Antyodaya Gruha Yojana, launched on March 30, 2025, houses are being provided to families covered under the Forest Rights Act, households where a person with disability is the primary breadwinner, and destitute women and widows.
Of the 2.25 lakh houses sanctioned under the scheme, 1.47 lakh have been completed, he said.
The scheme has been extended till 2029 to cover more beneficiaries, facilitating the construction of an additional 2,91,666 houses, CM Majhi said.
The state government also provides an incentive of Rs 35,000 for completing house construction within five months and Rs 20,000 for completing it within seven months. So far, 11.35 lakh beneficiaries have received the incentives, he said.
Chouhan said modern technology should be integrated with traditional agricultural practices. He expressed confidence that the new agricultural university in Balangir would emerge as one of the best in the country.
He described CM Majhi as a simple and sincere leader and said Odisha could achieve its goal of becoming a developed state under his leadership.
Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo stressed the need to promote agri-tourism and install solar panels in agricultural areas to increase power generation.
He said the PM Surya Ghar Yojana would be integrated with PMAY, with solar panels installed on the rooftops of houses.
Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Nayak said a house was not just a shelter but also a symbol of identity and security for a family.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling, Balangir MP Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo and others also addressed the programme.
On the occasion, Majhi inaugurated 160 projects worth around Rs 176 crore and laid the foundation stones for 88 projects worth Rs 735 crore in the district.
PTI