Previous govt was cheating people over housing scheme: Odisha Minister

The previous BJD government mislead the people about the ambitious housing scheme (Antyodaya Gruha Yojana), alleged the current Rural Development and Panchayatiraj Minister, Rabi Narayan Naik on Sunday.

The Minister alleged that while the previous government registered many individuals for pucca houses, it failed to deliver on its promises.

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Minister Naik voiced dissatisfaction with the way the BJD handled the Indira Awas Yojana, highlighting that many of the houses distributed under this scheme are now in dilapidated conditions.

In contrast, he assured that the new government's initiatives aim to fulfill the aspiration of providing pucca houses for all.
Eligible people have been earmarked to receive new homes, with a goal to complete this rollout before the upcoming elections.

Nayak accused the former BJD-led government of merely installing name plaques under the Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana (BPGY) without realising these commitments, thereby damaging the legacy of Biju Babu.

“This government (BJP-led) is thinking of the people and also taking necessary steps. The previous government was ‘cheating people’. They (eligible applicants) were registering their names but were not being given the benefits of the scheme. They were being discriminated and this was the situation then,” the Rural Development Minister said.

“Antyodaya Yojana is meant for them who had got Rs 22,000, Rs 35,000, Rs 45,000, or Rs 75,000 under Indira Awas Yojana in the past days. Their houses are not pucca and we want to provide them with pucca houses,” the Minister Naik stated.

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“Several pucca houses, previously allotted to the beneficiaries, are now in dilapidated condition and those people are curently not eligible for a new one. But, plans are afoot to include them for pucca houses. The current government has decided to provide pucca houses to around 2.25 lakh people,” the Minister added.

The BJD is yet to respond to the allegations.