The Odisha government made a big announcement on Thursday. The government will give work orders for 50,000 Antyodaya houses on September 17, on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 75th birthday. Panchayati Raj Minister Rabi Narayan Naik said that the scheme is to provide pucca houses to people from weaker economic sections or those currently living in kutcha houses.
Minister Rabi Narayan Naik said that housing assistance of Rs 1.2 lakh will be given for building a pucca house with a minimum carpet area of 25 square feet. He added that more than one lakh beneficiaries have already been included in this scheme. He also said that work orders for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) houses will be issued in November.
Rabi Narayan Naik said that around 35 lakh people applied in a recent survey for the new PMAY. The government will start giving work orders in November after completing all formalities.
Earlier, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced that the state government will plant 75 lakh saplings on Prime Minister Modi’s birthday.
Plantation under ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’
Mohan Charan Majhi said the plantation will be done under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign. He said, “Because of the Prime Minister’s commitment to Odisha’s development and his goodwill towards the people, 75 lakh trees will be planted across the state on a single day, September 17. This will be the public’s gift to the Prime Minister.”
Apart from this, the ruling BJP will also hold several programs to mark the Prime Minister’s 75th birthday. The party will celebrate ‘Seva Paksha’ (service fortnight) from September 17 to October 2 (Gandhi Jayanti).