Centre Sanctions 5 Lakh Houses For Odisha Under PMAY-G
A fresh survey had been completed to identify eligible households: Union rural development minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan
BHUBANESWAR: Union rural development minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday announced an additional one lakh houses for Odisha under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), taking the state's total allocation to five lakh houses.
Making the announcement at a state-level programme in Balangir in the presence of chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Mr Chouhan said the Centre had earlier sanctioned four lakh houses for Odisha and approved another one lakh following the chief minister's request. Mr Majhi, however, urged the Centre to sanction an additional one lakh houses to cover more eligible beneficiaries.
Mr Chouhan said a fresh survey had been completed to identify eligible households and assured that no poor family would be left behind in the government's efforts to provide pucca houses.
He also announced that a pilot project aimed at poverty eradication would be launched in Odisha from Balangir, as part of the Centre's initiative to address rural poverty.
Mr Chouhan said the Centre and the state government would jointly promote rooftop solar installations in houses constructed under the housing scheme. The initiative would help beneficiaries reduce their electricity bills and earn additional income by selling surplus power.
Highlighting women's economic empowerment, the union minister appreciated Odisha for achieving the target of creating 27 lakh Lakhpati Didis a year ahead of schedule, with 29 lakh women having attained the status. He said banks would extend loans worth Rs 10 lakh crore to women across the country over the next five years to promote entrepreneurship and livelihood activities.
He also announced an allocation of around Rs 4,000 crore for Odisha this year under the Viksit Bharat-G RAM G scheme for rural development.
Mr Majhi said providing a pucca roof over every family's head remained the state government's top priority. Since 2014-15, more than 41 lakh pucca houses have been completed in Odisha under various rural housing schemes, including 5.66 lakh in the last two years.
The chief minister said 25.58 lakh of the 28.06 lakh houses sanctioned under PMAY-G had been completed in the state.
Earlier, Mr Majhi inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 248 development projects worth Rs 911 crore in Balangir district.
Deputy chief minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and several state ministers, MPs and MLAs attended the programme.