Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has announced the construction of an additional 2,91,666 houses under the Antyodaya Gruha Yojana and extended the scheme’s implementation period by two years until 2029.
The scheme’s total outlay will remain unchanged at ₹7,550 crore, but ₹3,500 crore earmarked for house repairs will be diverted towards the construction of new houses, according to the decision.
The Chief Minister said the move would help the state achieve its goal of providing housing to all eligible families at the earliest.
The state government has directed the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department to conduct a survey at the earliest to identify new beneficiaries. Those who have received ₹48,500 or less, along with other eligible applicants, will be considered for inclusion under the scheme.
The government has also revised the incentives for beneficiaries completing house construction within the stipulated time. Those completing their houses within five months will now receive an incentive of ₹35,000, against the earlier incentive of ₹20,000 for completion within four months. Similarly, beneficiaries completing construction within seven months will receive ₹20,000, compared with the earlier incentive of ₹10,000 for completion within six months.
The Antyodaya Gruha Yojana was launched with a target of providing houses to five lakh families, particularly poor and vulnerable households that were not eligible for housing assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
The latest decision is expected to expand the scheme’s coverage and enable more eligible families to secure permanent houses.
