Fixing BJD's injustices: Shivraj Chouhan announces 5 lakh PM Awas houses in Odisha

At a PMAY-G event in Odhsia's Balangir, the Union Minister said a fresh survey would identify eligible beneficiaries denied housing benefits due to earlier selection irregularities.Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan made the announcement at a state-level PMAY-G event in Odisha's Balangir on Saturday, November 14, 2026.Belangir, Odisha,Nov 14, 2026 16:15 ISTUnion Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday announced the allocation of five lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) in Odisha, asserting that every poor person in the state would get a permanent house.Launching a sharp attack on the previous Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government, he said the injustices committed against the poor during its tenure would be rectified under the BJP government led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.Making the announcement at a state-level PMAY-G event in Balangir, the Agriculture and Rural Development Minister said the Centre had ensured a fresh survey to identify eligible beneficiaries who were deprived of housing benefits due to irregularities in the earlier selection process.He alleged that ineligible people and those already owning permanent houses had found places on beneficiary lists, while genuinely poor families were left out. He assured that no poor family would have to continue living in makeshift huts and that eligible households would receive permanent homes in a phased manner.He also announced that solar panels would be installed on houses with support from the Centre and state government, helping beneficiaries reduce electricity expenses and earn additional income by selling surplus power.HIGHLIGHTS BJP GOVT'S ACHIEVEMENTS Counting the Mohan Majhi government's achievements, Chouhan said Odisha had made significant progress in women's empowerment through the Subhadra Yojana and the Lakhpati Didi initiative.He noted that 29 lakh women in the state had become Lakhpati Didis, exceeding the target of 27 lakh a year ahead of schedule.He further announced that loans worth Rs 10 lakh crore would be extended through banks over the next five years to empower women across the country.Women wishing to establish independent businesses would also be eligible for collateral-free loans, extending financial assistance beyond members of self-help groups.SCHEMES FOR FARMERS' WELFAREOn agricultural development, Chouhan described serving farmers as equivalent to worshipping God and promised to develop the newly announced Agriculture College in Balangir into the best institution in the country with assistance from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Centre.He also outlined plans to promote solar panels above agricultural land, allowing farmers to generate electricity while cultivating fruits and vegetables underneath.The Union Minister said farmers who had previously been excluded from the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme had now been included in the beneficiary list.BUILDING RURAL INFRASTRUCTURETurning to rural infrastructure, Chouhan announced that Odisha would receive around Rs 4,000 crore this year under the Viksit Bharat initiative.Each Panchayat would receive annual assistance of Rs 25 lakh to Rs 50 lakh, translating into development funds of up to Rs 1 crore for smaller Panchayats and Rs 2 crore for larger ones over five years.The funds would support village roads, drainage systems, schools, Panchayat buildings, farm connectivity and water conservation projects.He also announced approval for 1,700 km of roads under the fourth phase of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana to improve all-weather connectivity.PRAISES DOUBLE-ENGINE GOVTAccusing the previous BJD government of allowing land, sand, coal and mining mafias to flourish, Chouhan claimed that the situation had changed under the BJP's double-engine government.He said the Centre and state were working together towards building a developed Odisha as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Viksit Bharat vision.The event was attended by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and other ministers, elected representatives and officials.With the allocation of five lakh houses and the proposed investments in agriculture, women's empowerment and rural infrastructure, the Centre and Odisha government are expected to focus on accelerating the implementation of welfare and development programmes across the state.- Ends