The Odisha government has approved 292,000 additional houses under the Antyodaya Gruha Yojana and extended the scheme by two years to 2029. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said the decision would accelerate efforts to provide homes to poor and vulnerable families who are ineligible for assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

The total project outlay will remain unchanged at Rs. 75.5 bn. Of this, Rs. 35 bn previously earmarked for repairs will be diverted towards the construction of new houses, allowing the government to expand the number of beneficiaries without increasing the approved budget.

Beneficiaries who have received Rs. 48,500 or less under the scheme, along with other eligible households, will be considered for inclusion. The Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department has been directed to conduct a survey to identify additional families that meet the eligibility criteria.

The government has also increased incentives for timely completion of houses. Beneficiaries who complete construction within five months will receive Rs. 35,000, compared with Rs. 20,000 earlier for completion within four months. Those completing their houses within seven months will receive Rs. 20,000, up from Rs. 10,000 previously for completion within six months.

Majhi said the revised provisions would enable more eligible families to benefit from the programme. The Antyodaya Gruha Yojana was initially designed to provide houses to 500,000 families, particularly poor and vulnerable households unable to qualify for housing assistance under the central scheme. The latest expansion is intended to address the housing needs of additional households identified through the state survey.