Antyodaya Gruha Yojana – Construction of New House

The Antyodaya Gruha Yojana (AGY) is a rural housing initiative implemented by the Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Department, Government of Odisha.

This component focuses on providing financial assistance for constructing new pucca houses to eligible rural households that are houseless or living in kutcha houses.

The scheme is implemented through Panchayat Samities under the supervision of Zilla Parishads and the department.

Objective of the Scheme

The primary objective is to provide safe, durable, and dignified housing to vulnerable rural families by supporting the construction of a new pucca house with a minimum carpet area of 25 square metres (excluding toilet area but including hygienic cooking space).

Benefits Under the Scheme

Financial Assistance

• ₹1,20,000 per eligible household for new house construction.

Instalment-Wise Payment Structure

1. First Instalment – ₹10,000
   Released along with issuance of the work order.

2. Second Instalment – ₹65,000
   Released after reaching roof level.

3. Third Instalment – ₹15,000
   Released upon completion of the house.

Timeline

• House must ordinarily be completed within 12 months from the date of first instalment credit.

Mode of Disbursement

• Funds are transferred directly to the beneficiary’s bank account via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) from the State Nodal Account.

Convergence Benefits

Beneficiaries can receive additional support through convergence with other schemes:

• 90–95 person-days of unskilled labour wages under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGS).

• Eligibility for rural sanitation, drinking water, and electrification schemes.

• Cluster-based housing development encouraged by BDOs.

• Common infrastructure support such as:

  • CC roads

  • Street lights

  • Drainage systems

  • Community sanitation complexes

  • Compost pits

These are developed through Central and State Government convergence schemes.

Eligibility Criteria

The applicant household must:

• Be residing in rural Odisha.

• Be houseless or living in a kutcha house.

• Belong to at least one of the following categories:

  • Beneficiaries under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.

  • Households where the main earning member is a Person with Disability (minimum 40%).

  • Eligible lower-income households left out of other rural housing schemes.

Special Eligibility (Even if Previously Allotted House)

The following households are eligible even if previously allotted a house under any government scheme:

• Houses fully/severely damaged due to:

  • Fire

  • Flood

  • Cyclone

  • Earthquake

  • Elephant menace

  • Communal or LWE violence

  • Major law & order issues

• Victims of river/sea inundation requiring relocation.

• Families displaced due to government projects (highways, irrigation, etc.).

• Households in sanctuary/reserve forest areas requiring relocation.

Exclusion Criteria

A household is not eligible if:

• Living in a pucca house.

• Any member is a regular Government/PSU/statutory body employee or pensioner.

• Owns:

  • Motorized four-wheeler

  • Mechanized agricultural equipment (3 or 4 wheeler)

• Runs a registered non-agricultural enterprise.

• Any family member earns more than ₹15,000 per month.

• Owns:

  • 2.5 acres or more irrigated land, or

  • 5 acres or more unirrigated land.

• Already availed housing assistance under another government rural housing scheme.

Application Process (Offline)

1. Eligible households are identified by the Block Development Officer (BDO).

2. Documents are verified (FRA, disability, calamity certificate, etc.).

3. Existing house is geo-tagged and uploaded to the Rural Housing Portal.

4. The Collector-cum-District Magistrate scrutinizes and submits proposals to the department.

5. Beneficiary list and progress updates are published district/block-wise on the official rural housing portal.

6. Instalments are released through DBT based on verified construction milestones.

Official Website: https://rh.odisha.gov.in/

Documents Required

• Identity Proof

• Residence Proof

• Certificate proving houseless/kutcha house status

• FRA Certificate (if applicable)

• Disability Certificate (minimum 40%, if applicable)

• Calamity Damage Certificate (if applicable)

• Land Ownership/Allotment Document

• Bank Account Details

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the objective of the Construction of New House component?

To provide financial assistance for building a pucca house to houseless or kutcha house rural families in Odisha.

2. Who can apply?

Eligible rural households falling under FRA beneficiaries, PWD households, calamity-affected families, displaced households, and eligible left-out low-income families.

3. Is assistance available for construction on owned land?

Yes. Construction is generally undertaken on owned or legally allotted land.

4. What financial support is provided?

₹1,20,000 in three instalments via DBT.

5. Is there any income criteria?

Yes. Families earning more than ₹15,000 per month are excluded.

6. Is beneficiary contribution required?

The scheme primarily provides unit assistance. Additional improvements may require beneficiary contribution.

7. How is the amount released?

In three instalments based on construction progress and verification.

8. Can the assistance be used for renovation?

No. This component is strictly for construction of a new pucca house.

9. Where can beneficiaries check the list?

On the official Rural Housing portal of Odisha.

Sources & References

• Official Rural Housing Portal – https://rh.odisha.gov.in/

• Scheme Guidelines – https://rh.odisha.gov.in/guidelines/Antyodaya_Gruha_Jojana_Guideline.pdf