Odisha’s poor families have good news. Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced in Balangir on Saturday that 5 lakh pucca houses will be given out right away under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G). He spoke at the state-level programme with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi by his side. He also laid the foundation stone of a new agriculture college in Balangir.
Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Panchayati Raj Minister Rabi Narayan Naik, Health Minister Dr Mukesh Mahaling and MP Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo were also present.
Odisha’s Homes and Women: Pucca Roofs and Bigger Dreams
Chouhan said a proper survey for housing has now been completed. According to him, no poor family in Odisha will have to live in a kutcha hut, and every eligible household will get a house in phases. There is a bonus too. The Centre and the state will together give a subsidy for solar panels on these homes. This could bring the electricity bill down to zero, and families may even earn by selling extra power.
The minister also praised the women of Odisha. Under the Subhadra Yojana, women receive Rs 10,000 every year. He said this has boosted their confidence and respect. Odisha had aimed to make 27 lakh women “Lakhpati Didis” but crossed that target a year early. Today, 29 lakh women hold that title.
Looking ahead, banks will give loans worth Rs 10 lakh crore over the next five years to help women across India become lakhpatis. A woman will not need to be part of a group to get a loan. If she wants to start a business on her own, she can apply too.
Odisha’s Farms and Villages: New Plans for Growth
For farmers, Chouhan promised to turn the Balangir agriculture college into the best in the country. It will be built with help from ICAR and the Government of India, and top scientists will support farmers. A new idea is also on the table. Solar panels would be installed above a farmer’s field, while fruits and vegetables grow below. That way, farmers earn from both power and crops. Farmers who were left out of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi list have now been added.
Villages will get a big boost as well. Under the Viksit Bharat-G RAM G scheme, Odisha will receive nearly Rs 4,000 crore this year. Each panchayat will get Rs 25 to 50 lakh every year. Over five years, a small panchayat can receive up to Rs 1 crore and a big one up to Rs 2 crore. The money can be used for roads, drains, schools, panchayat buildings, farm roads and ponds. Under the fourth phase of the PM Gram Sadak Yojana, 1,700 km of roads have been approved, and the remaining villages will also get pucca roads.
Chouhan said he came as a humble servant of the people, not as a guest. He also bowed to Balangir’s culture, including Nuakhai and the Dalkhai and Rasarkeli dances.
