In a major boost to rural housing in Odisha, the Central Government has sanctioned an additional one lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), taking the state’s total allocation to five lakh houses. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi launched the housing distribution programme in Bolangir on Saturday in the presence of Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Pucca Houses Top Priority: CM
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 represents dignity, security and a better future for rural families.
According to the Chief Minister, more than 41 lakh pucca houses have been constructed in Odisha under various rural housing schemes since 2014-15. Of these, over 5.66 lakh houses were completed during the last two years.
Under PMAY-G, 28.06 lakh houses have been sanctioned for Odisha, of which 25.58 lakh have already been completed. The Chief Minister thanked the Centre for approving an additional one lakh houses for 2026-27 and requested another one lakh allocation.
Housing Schemes Benefit Tribal Families
Highlighting other housing initiatives, Majhi said 35,635 houses have been completed out of 41,075 sanctioned for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) families under PM-JANMAN.
Under the state’s Antyodaya Gruha Yojana, launched on March 30, 2025, around 1.47 lakh houses have been completed against 2.25 lakh sanctioned. The scheme has been extended until 2029, with plans to construct another 2,91,666 houses.
Beneficiaries completing houses within five months receive Rs 35,000 as an incentive, while those completing construction within seven months get Rs 20,000.
Poverty Eradication Project to Begin in Bolangir
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced that a pilot project aimed at poverty eradication would be launched in Odisha from Bolangir. He also assured that more houses would be sanctioned for the state and every village would be connected through pucca roads.
He emphasised the need to combine traditional agriculture with modern technology and expressed confidence that Bolangir’s upcoming agricultural university would emerge as one of the country’s leading institutions.
Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo said the PM Surya Ghar Yojana would be linked with the housing programme to encourage rooftop solar installations.
248 Projects Worth Rs 911 Crore for Bolangir
During the programme, Chief Minister Majhi inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 248 development projects worth Rs 911 crore.
These include 160 projects worth Rs 176 crore inaugurated and 88 projects worth Rs 735 crore for which foundation stones were laid. The projects cover healthcare, drinking water, irrigation, roads, schools, Anganwadi centres and hostels.
Several ministers, Bolangir MP Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, local MLAs and senior officials attended the programme.