Bhubaneswar: In a significant push toward strengthening grassroots governance and empowering rural communities, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday virtually laid the foundation stone for 471 new Gram Panchayat offices across Odisha from Lok Seva Bhawan. On the occasion, he also distributed the first installment of ₹40,000 each under the Antyodaya Gruha Yojana to 48,693 beneficiaries, marking another step toward housing security for underprivileged families.
The new Gram Panchayat offices, to be built in all districts except Nuapada and Kalahandi, will be constructed at an estimated cost of ₹35 lakh each, jointly funded by the Centre and the State Government. Designed as ‘One-Stop Service Centres’, these offices will include dedicated rooms for the Sarpanch, Panchayat Executive Officer, Junior Engineer, Gram Rozgar Sevak, and Accountant-cum-Data Entry Operator, ensuring smoother and more transparent service delivery at the village level.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Majhi said the initiative reflects the government’s unwavering commitment to good governance and efficient service delivery. “Governance is not our mantra; service is,” he said, emphasizing that modern Panchayat offices will become symbols of accountability, accessibility, and people-centric administration.
Under the Antyodaya Gruha Yojana, launched on March 30, 2025, the state targets the construction of five lakh houses for poor families by 2027–28, with a total outlay of ₹7,550 crore. Each beneficiary receives ₹1.20 lakh in three installments, along with incentives of ₹20,000 for completing construction within four months and ₹10,000 for completion within six months.
In the current phase, ₹1,947.72 crore has been disbursed to beneficiaries across 28 districts. The scheme also integrates MGNREGA employment—providing 95 days of work in IAP districts and 90 days in non-IAP areas—while ensuring every home has essential amenities like toilets and piped water supply.
“The goal is to ensure every poor and helpless family has a safe and permanent shelter to live with dignity,” said the Chief Minister, interacting virtually with beneficiaries and Panchayat representatives.
Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Naik, addressing the event, said the new Gram Panchayat buildings will become “the core of rural governance”, enabling faster service delivery and improved citizen engagement. “These buildings will become a new milestone in public service and rural development,” he added.
