Centre approves one lakh additional PMAY-G houses for Odisha
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced the new allocation in Balangir, bringing the state's total quota to five lakh houses.
Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced on Saturday that the Centre has sanctioned an additional one lakh houses for Odisha under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G). According to reports from Deccan Chronicle and Urban Acres, this brings the total allocation for the state to five lakh houses. The announcement was made during a programme in Balangir in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
Mr Chouhan stated that the initial four lakh houses were sanctioned earlier and the new one lakh follows a request from the Chief Minister. He noted that a fresh survey was finished to identify eligible households and promised that no poor family would be left behind. He also said a pilot project for poverty eradication would launch in Odisha from Balangir.
Chief Minister Majhi said providing a pucca roof to every family is a top priority. He noted that since the 2014-15 period, Odisha has seen the completion of over 41 lakh rural homes through various schemes, with 5.66 lakh finished in the last two years. Under PMAY-G specifically, 25.58 lakh of the 28.06 lakh sanctioned houses have been completed.
Mr Majhi requested the Centre to sanction another one lakh houses to reach all eligible beneficiaries. He also mentioned that the state's Antyodaya Gruha Yojana would continue until 2029. To encourage faster construction, the state provides incentives of Rs 35,000 for houses finished within five months and Rs 20,000 for those completed within seven months.
The event in Balangir also included the inauguration and laying of foundation stones for 248 development projects valued at Rs 911 crore. These projects cover sectors such as healthcare, irrigation, and rural roads.