Bhawanipatna: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the Antyodaya Housing Scheme. The inauguration took place in Bhawanipatna, Kalahandi district. The Chief Minister stated that ₹7,550 crore will be invested over three years under this scheme, with eligible beneficiaries receiving work orders for housing construction.
During his speech, the Chief Minister mentioned that houses under this scheme will be provided to differently-abled individuals, widows, critically ill patients, and families of martyrs. In the first phase, over 69,000 beneficiaries across the state will be covered. Specifically, 3,676 beneficiaries from Kalahandi district will benefit from the scheme.
The Chief Minister also distributed work orders to some beneficiaries from various blocks of the district. Additionally, he laid the foundation stone and inaugurated various Panchayati Raj development projects worth over ₹600 crore.
Prominent attendees included Panchayati Raj Minister Ravi Narayan Nayak, Secretary Girish Satya Narayan, Kalahandi MP Malavika Devi, Dharamgarh MLA Sudhir Ranjan Patjoshi, Zilla Parishad President Pushpendra Singh Deo, and District Collector Sachin Prakash.
During his speech, Minister Ravi Nayak stated that any official found engaging in irregularities in the implementation of the Antyodaya Housing Scheme would be suspended immediately. He also announced the digging of 25,000 borewells this year to benefit the public.
At the beginning of his speech, the Chief Minister extended greetings for the Hindu New Year. He highlighted Kalahandi’s rich cultural heritage, mentioning Maa Manikeswari, Chhatar Yatra, and the globally recognized folk dance, Ghumura. He also honored local heroes like freedom fighter Rendo Majhi and “Waterman” Kal Majhi.
Kalahandi has ranked second in paddy production and first in cotton cultivation in the state. The Chief Minister criticized the previous government for neglecting the district, citing the tragic case of Dana Majhi, who had to carry his wife’s body on his shoulders due to the lack of ambulance services. He assured that such neglect would not happen again, mentioning the implementation of the 109 Ambulance Scheme.
He also praised Kalahandi’s soil, which is used to make cricket pitches, including those at Barabati Stadium.
Concluding his speech, the Chief Minister asserted that the new “double-engine” government (referring to the BJP-led central and state governments) would ensure that genuine beneficiaries receive houses and that corruption and favoritism in housing allocation would not be tolerated.