Naveen Patnaik announces Rs 3,000 crore Biju Pucca Ghar scheme

BHUBANESWAR: As part of commitment made to the people of Odisha during elections, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today announced a Rs 3,000 crore new scheme with the objective of converting all the kuccha houses to pucca houses in the state.

"The new scheme is named as Biju Pucca Ghar scheme. Our aim is to convert all the kuchha houses into pucca houses in rural areas," Patnaik said.

Stating that the existing ' Mo Kudia' scheme is merged with the new scheme, Patnaik said the annual budget provision of the Biju Pucca Ghar will be substantially enhanced from Rs 330 crore to around Rs 3000 crore in a phased manner.

Odisha government had earlier announced 'Mo Kudia' scheme to cover the poor and needy people denied housing facility under the Indira Awas Yojana (IAY). Now, the state government's own scheme 'Mo Kudia' would be merged with the Biju Pucca Ghar, officials said.

"The house under the new scheme will be sanctioned in the name of women of the household," Patnaik said while indicating that it was the state government's bid to empower women.

"We are planning to strengthen manpower both at the gram panchayat and block levels to effectively implement this huge initiative," he said.