Curation Team
BHUBANEWSHWAR: CM Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday launched the Antyodaya Gruha Yojana, a housing scheme meant for the economically weaker sections of society, in Kalahandi district.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in 2018 that everyone would be provided with a permanent house. Schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (urban and rural) are being implemented. We are strengthening the housing scheme by launching the Antyodaya Gruha Yojana,” Majhi told the gathering at Risigaon in Kalahandi.
On the launch day, work orders were issued for 60,000 houses. The goal is to construct over 5 lakh houses in the next three years. While a budget of Rs 2,600 crore has been allocated for this year, Rs 7,550 crore will be invested over the next three years.
Under the scheme, each beneficiary will receive Rs 1.20 lakh, and it will be converged with other schemes to provide essential facilities. Toilets from the Swachh Bharat Mission, cooking gas from the Ujjwala Yojana, clean drinking water from the Jal Jeevan Mission, and electricity connections from the Saubhagya Yojana will be provided, govt sources said.
Additionally, beneficiaries will be provided with unskilled labour work for 90 to 95 days under the MGNREGS. “The poorest and most helpless in society will benefit from the scheme. Priority will be given to families affected by critical diseases, widows, families of martyrs, and those impacted by natural disasters like floods and cyclones. Families affected by cancer, leprosy, kidney disease, liver cirrhosis, thalassaemia or HIV, as well as orphans and the homeless, will be provided immediate housing under the Antyodaya scheme,” the CM said.
He further said to provide housing to more people, the definition of family and pucca house has been simplified. Houses with asbestos, tin or tile roofs are considered temporary. Only houses with cemented walls and reinforced concrete roofs are recognised as permanent. The definition of family has been simplified to include husband, wife, dependant parents and children.
He said under PMAY (rural), 23 lakh houses were built in the state while construction of 4 lakh units is underway. Majhi highlighted Kalahandi’s rich history, culture and agriculture system, saying the region is a land of exquisite art and pure hearts. “Fulfilling demands of the people of Kalahandi, concrete lining work of the left canal of the Indravati multipurpose irrigation project will be completed soon,” he said.
The CM also inaugurated projects worth Rs 617.51 crore for Kalahandi district. Panchayati raj minister Rabi Narayan Nayak, Kalahandi MP Malavika Devi and Dharamgarh MLA Sudhir Ranjan Pattjoshi were present during the launch event.
