Bhubaneswar, Oct 19: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today distributed the first installment under the Antyodaya Housing Scheme and performed the virtual foundation stone laying ceremony for 471 Gram Panchayat office buildings from Lok Seva Bhavan here.
The initiative spans 28 districts of the state, excluding Nuapada and Kalahandi, where 48,693 beneficiaries have received their first installment of ₹40,000 each under the Antyodaya Housing Scheme. The total disbursement amounts to ₹194.77 crore.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the Antyodaya Housing Scheme was launched on March 30 to provide safe and dignified housing for the poor. The scheme has been allocated a total outlay of ₹7,550 crore for the financial years 2024–25 to 2027–28, targeting the construction of five lakh houses across Odisha.
Beneficiaries will receive financial assistance in three installments — ₹40,000 as the first installment, ₹65,000 as the second, and ₹15,000 as the third, totaling ₹1.20 lakh per household. Those who complete their houses within four months will get an incentive of ₹20,000, while those completing construction within six months will receive ₹10,000.
In addition to financial support, beneficiaries will also receive employment under MGNREGA — 95 days of wages in IAP (Integrated Action Plan) districts and 90 days in non-IAP districts. They will also be provided with toilets, piped water, and other basic amenities, ensuring holistic development.
Chief Minister Majhi emphasized that the Antyodaya Housing Scheme will ensure that every poor, underprivileged, and vulnerable family has access to safe and permanent housing, enabling them to live a life of dignity.
Reiterating his government’s motto, he said, “Our government’s core principle is not governance, but service.”
He added that, under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the state government is developing Gram Panchayats as centers of public welfare and citizen services.
Each new Panchayat office will be built at an estimated cost of ₹35 lakh with joint participation from the Central and State Governments. The offices will feature dedicated rooms for the Sarpanch, Panchayat Executive Officer, Junior Engineer, Gram Rojgar Sevak, and Accountant-cum-Data Entry Operator.
Highlighting the transformative nature of the project, the Chief Minister said that these Gram Panchayat offices will serve as “One Stop Service Centres”, where citizens can access all government services in one place.
Through this initiative, the Odisha government aims to empower rural communities, enhance administrative efficiency, and bring governance closer to the people, embodying the true spirit of Seva (service) over Shasan (rule).
