Bhubaneswar, Nov 30: The Odisha government has issued strict directives to all District Collectors to accelerate the distribution of pucca houses to homeless families across the state.

The Panchayati Raj Department has emphasized the need to prioritize eligible landless rural households and other identified beneficiaries to ensure timely delivery of housing support.

As per the 2024 survey, around 37,89,234 families in Odisha continue to live in kutcha houses, while 2,01,011 families are completely homeless. Kendrapara district has the highest number of pending cases, with 271 homeless individuals yet to receive housing, followed by Ganjam with 171.

To tackle the persistent issue of landlessness, District Collectors have been instructed to convene joint meetings with Block Development Officers (BDOs) and Tehsildars on the first Saturday of every month. These coordinated efforts aim to expedite the allocation process and ensure eligible families receive houses within the stipulated timeframe.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Gramin (PMAY-G), the government seeks to provide affordable housing to the rural poor. Beneficiaries receive ₹1,20,000 in financial assistance for construction in plain areas and ₹1,30,000 for hilly regions. Odisha has sanctioned 37 lakh new houses under PMAY-G, focusing on vulnerable communities such as SC/ST, minority groups, and families living below the poverty line (BPL).