Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday distributed the first installment of Rs 40,000 each to 48,693 beneficiaries under the Antyodaya Gruha Yojana (AGY), a flagship housing initiative aimed at providing pucca homes to economically disadvantaged families. Launched on March 30, the AGY seeks to deliver quality housing to the poor across the state. In this first phase, a total of Rs 194.77 crore was disbursed to eligible beneficiaries. Chief Minister Majhi announced an ambitious budget allocation of Rs 7,550 crore for the AGY spanning from 2024-25 to 2027-28, with a target to construct 5 lakh houses during this period. Beneficiaries will receive Rs 40,000 in the initial installment, followed by Rs 65,000 in the second, and Rs 15,000 in the third, totaling Rs 1.20 lakh per house. To encourage timely completion, the government has introduced incentives: Rs 20,000 for beneficiaries who complete their houses within four months, and Rs 10,000 for those finishing within six months. In addition to the housing scheme, CM Majhi laid foundation stones for new offices of 471 gram panchayats across 28 districts. Highlighting the vision under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's guidance, the Chief Minister emphasized the development of gram panchayats as hubs for public welfare and service. Each gram panchayat office will be constructed with an estimated budget of Rs 35 lakh, funded jointly by the central and state governments, reinforcing the commitment to decentralized governance and community development.