Odisha CM Lays Foundation for 471 Panchayat Offices, Launches Antodaya Gruha Yojana Housing Aid

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday laid the foundation stone for 471 new gram panchayat offices across the state. The initiative, aimed at strengthening rural administration and improving service delivery, includes 28 districts, excluding bypoll-bound Nuapada and Kalahandi.

Each panchayat office will be developed jointly by the Centre and the State at a cost of around ₹35 lakh. Designed as ‘One Stop Service Centres’, the new buildings will house dedicated rooms for the Sarpanch, Panchayat Executive Officer, Junior Engineer, Gram Rozgar Sevak and Accountant-cum-Data Entry Operator to ensure smooth public service delivery.

During the occasion, Majhi also released the first installment of the Antodaya Gruha Yojana, benefiting 48,693 families across 28 districts. Each beneficiary received ₹40,000 as the initial installment to build a pucca house. The scheme targets construction of five lakh houses between 2024-25 and 2027-28, with a total outlay of ₹7,550 crore.

Under the first phase, ₹194.77 crore was disbursed. Beneficiaries will later receive ₹65,000 and ₹15,000 in the second and third installments, respectively, totalling ₹1.20 lakh per household. Those completing construction within four months will receive an additional ₹20,000, while a six-month completion will fetch ₹10,000.

Majhi said the scheme ensures permanent housing for the poor and underprivileged, allowing them to live with dignity. Beneficiaries will also get wages for 95 days in IAP districts and 90 days in non-IAP areas, along with basic amenities like drinking water and toilets.

Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Rabi Naik, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja and senior officials attended the event, where several beneficiaries thanked the Chief Minister for realising their dream of owning a home.