The Government of Odisha has taken another strong step towards building a more inclusive and secure society with the launch of the Antyodaya Gruha Yojana (AGY). This new housing scheme aims to provide pucca homes to those families who have been left out of other housing schemes or who have lost their homes due to disasters or displacement.
Let’s take a closer look at what this scheme offers, who can apply, and how it works.
What is Antyodaya Gruha Yojana?
Antyodaya Gruha Yojana is a state-level rural housing scheme launched by the Odisha government to ensure that every eligible rural family either living without a house or in a kutcha house gets a pucca home.
The scheme also encourages beneficiaries to complete the construction quickly by offering incentives for early completion.
Objectives of the Scheme
- To provide safe, permanent (pucca) houses to poor and vulnerable families.
- To include those left out of earlier housing schemes.
- To help victims of natural/man-made calamities, developmental displacement, and families with a disabled main earner.
- To promote faster construction of houses through financial incentives.
What is a Pucca and Kutcha House?
Here are the basic differences between the Kutcha and Pucca houses:
| Criteria | Pucca House | Kutcha House |
| Wall | Bricks, stones, cement-bonded | Mud, bamboo, grass, or cement-less bonding |
| Roof | RCC (Reinforced Cement Concrete) | Straw, bamboo, tiles, asbestos, plastic sheets, etc. |
| Strength | Lasts 30+ years under normal weather and usage | Unsafe during disasters, short lifespan. |
Key Features of Antyodaya Gruha Yojana
- Assistance Amount: ₹1.20 lakh per house
- Minimum House Size: 25 square meters (excluding toilet area)
- Incentives:
- ₹20,000 for completing the house within 4 months
- ₹10,000 for completing within 6 months
- Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): All funds are sent directly to the beneficiary’s bank account.
- Cluster Housing: Wherever possible, houses will be built in clusters with roads, drainage, lighting, and sanitation facilities under convergence with other schemes.
Who is Eligible?
Here’s a simple breakdown of who can apply under this scheme:
- Families without a house or living in kutcha houses.
- FRA (Forest Rights Act) beneficiaries
- Families where the main earning member is a PwD (minimum 40% disability)
- Victims of:
- Fire
- Flood
- Cyclone
- Earthquake
- Elephant attacks
- Communal or extremist violence
- Households displaced by:
- Highway projects
- Irrigation or other government infrastructure projects
- Living in sanctuaries/reserved forest areas, needing relocation
Who is Not Eligible?
The following families cannot apply for a new house under AGY:
- Already living in a pucca house
- Government or PSU employees or pensioners
- Families owning a four-wheeler
- Families owning mechanised farming equipment
- Income above ₹15,000/month
- Business registered with the government
- Families owning:
- ≥ 2.5 acres of irrigated land
- ≥ 5 acres of unirrigated land
- Already availed the benefit under any other housing scheme
- Displaced families who already own pucca houses elsewhere
Application Process For Antyodaya Gruha Yojana
As of now, the Antyodaya Gruha Yojana does not have an online application portal. The process is carried out offline through local government authorities. Here’s how it works:
- Identification by Panchayat / Block Officials
Local panchayat officials and block-level officers (like BDOs) identify eligible families through field verification.
- List Preparation by District Collector
A detailed list of eligible families is prepared by the Collector-cum-District Magistrate of each district.
- Approval and Sanction
Once approved, the beneficiary receives a Work Order from the local BDO (Block Development Officer).
- Bank Account Verification & DBT
The beneficiary’s bank account is verified, and the first instalment is credited directly through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Important: There is no need to fill out any form online or pay anyone for inclusion. The process is handled directly by government officials.
How Are Beneficiaries Selected?
- Collector-cum-District Magistrate compiles the list of eligible families after thorough verification.
- Proposal sent to PR & DW Department, who forwards it for CM’s approval.
- Once approved, BDO sanctions the house to the selected beneficiary.
What If the Family Doesn’t Own Land?
- Landless families under AGY or other housing schemes will be given priority for house site allocation.
- BDO and Tahsildar will hold a meeting every 1st Saturday of the month to resolve land issues.
- Houses will not be built on valuable government land (like highwaysides) until legal land is allotted.
Financial Assistance & Instalment Structure
| Installment | Stage of Construction | Amount |
| 1st Installment | On issuance of the Work Order | ₹10,000 |
| 2nd Installment | After reaching roof level | ₹65,000 |
| 3rd Installment | On completion of the house | ₹45,000 |
| Total | ₹1,20,000 |
Timeline for Completion
- Houses should ideally be completed within 12 months of receiving the first instalment.
- Beneficiaries can build larger houses, but must complete the core house of 25 sq. meters first.
Convergence with Other Schemes
The government promotes the use of additional schemes to support the beneficiary:
- MGNREGA: 90–95 days of unskilled labour support
- Toilet Construction: Rural sanitation scheme support
- Electricity & Drinking Water: Rural electrification and water schemes
- Community Infrastructure: Roads, street lights, sanitation complexes in housing clusters
Incentives for Early Completion
To encourage faster house construction, the government is offering extra money:
| Completion Time | Incentive Amount |
| Within 4 months | ₹20,000 |
| Within 6 months | ₹10,000 |
This incentive is in addition to the ₹1.2 lakh house assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply if I already have a house, but it was destroyed in a flood?
Yes. If your house was severely damaged by a natural disaster like flood or cyclone, you can be eligible even if you had a pucca house earlier.
I don’t own any land. Can I still get a house under AGY?
Yes. Landless families will be provided land by the government before sanctioning a house.
Is the scheme only for rural areas?
Yes. Antyodaya Gruha Yojana is meant for families in rural areas of Odisha.
Can I use the funds to build a bigger house?
Yes, but the core house of 25 sq. meters must be completed first. You can extend it later.
Will I get the full ₹1.2 lakh amount at once?
No. The amount is given in three installments based on the progress of construction.