Central agriculture, farmer welfare and rural development minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan attended the state-level Prime Minister Awas Yojana‑Rural programme in Balangir, Odisha. In the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the minister made a major announcement to provide 5 lakh solid houses to Odisha's poor families immediately.

During the programme, a new agricultural college was also inaugurated in Balangir. The event was attended by Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Dev, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Ravi Narayan Nayak, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling, MP Sangeeta Kumari Singh Dev and several other dignitaries.

Announcements related to the Housing and Lakhpati Didi schemes

The minister assured that the housing survey has been completed and, in a phased manner, all eligible poor will receive solid houses. The centre and state governments will jointly subsidise solar panels for these houses, making electricity bills zero and allowing surplus power to be sold for income. He said that 2.9 million women in the state have become Lakhpati Didi. Additionally, the Rs 10,000 amount under the Subhadra scheme has boosted women’s confidence.

It was announced that over the next five years, banks will extend loans worth Rs 10 lakh crore to make women across the country Lakhpati. Loans will be available not only to groups but also to women starting individual enterprises without hassle. A pledge was made to make Balangir Agricultural College the nation’s premier institution, with plans for solar panels above fields and farming below. Additionally, names of eligible farmers missed in the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi have been added to the list.

Funds for Panchayat development and roads

Under the Viksit Bharat‑Ji Ram Ji scheme, Odisha is slated to receive about Rs 4,000 crore this year. Consequently, each panchayat in the state will get Rs 25‑50 lakh annually, and over five years small panchayats will receive Rs 1 crore and large panchayats Rs 2 crore for development works. In the fourth phase of the Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yojana, approval was given for 1,700 km of roads. The minister also highlighted Balangir’s folk culture, including Nuakhai and Dhalkhai‑Rasrakeli dance.