Bhubaneswar: The State Cabinet has approved a proposal to allocate Rs. 5700 crores for implementation of the State Sector Scheme—Interest Subsidy-Subvention to the Co-operative Banks/PACS for five years from 2023-24 to 2027-28 to ensure adequate credit flow in the agriculture at an affordable rate of interest to the farmers in the state.
Co-operation Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak said most of the farmers in the State belong to the small and marginal category with the small & marginal land holdings. These farmers do not have the required capital resources for their agricultural operations for which they require to avail hassle free crop loans from financial institutions. Therefore, the Government has been supporting them, he said.
The State Government has been providing crop loans up to Rs.1 lakh at 0% interest rate per annum (Interest free loan) from 1st April — 2022 and for crop loans above Rs.1 lakh to Rs.3 lakh, the applicable rate is 2% for prompt paying farmers.
Earlier, interest free crop loan was being provided up to the limit of Rs.50.000. During the year 2022-23, 32.43 lakh small and marginal farmers availed crop loan from Cooperative Banks 1 PACS within Rs.1 lakh at 0% interest rate per annum, Nayak said.
With an objective to provide cancer care nearer to the household of the patients, the State Cabinet has also approved a budget of Rs.1001.14 crore for expanding comprehensive cancer services across the state.
Chief Secretary P.K. Jena said 11 comprehensive cancer care units will be built up within a period of two years under the programme. Under this programme, radiotherapy, brachytherapy, histopathology, onco-surgery, chemotherapy and palliative care services will be strengthened, he said.
The Cabinet has approved the Odisha Semiconductor Manufacturing and Fabless Policy to facilitate investors to enter into the manufacturing of semiconductor/electronic chips in the state.
At least one semiconductor manufacturing unit and around 100 fabless design companies are expected to be established generating around 5000 direct employment and 20,000 indirect employment during the policy period of seven years, he added.
Similarly, the cabinet has approved a provision of Rs.500 crore for five years (2023-24 to 2027-28) for implementation of the price support scheme (PSS) by Odisha State Co-operative Marketing Federation Ltd. (MARKFED-Odisha) for procurement of oilseeds & pulses in the state on behalf of NAFED.
Moreover, the Canal Lining and System Rehabilitation Programme (CLSRP), which was launched during 2013-14, will continue for another five years with an outlay of Rs 2032.92 crore. The scheme has been renamed as Mukhyamantri Canal Lining Yojana, said the chief secretary.
The scheme has been extended to take up the ongoing 287.62 km of lining in major and medium irrigation projects and 24.58 km of canal lining work in minor irrigation projects and new lining works of 660.28 km of lining in major and medium irrigation projects and 295.34 km of canal lining work in minor irrigation projects.
The Cabinet has also approved a tender of Rs.103.45 crore for widening & strengthening of Marshaghai-Jamboo road (24.6 km) in Kendrapara district under state sector road development programme during 2023-24. The work is targeted for completion within a period of 21 months, the chief secretary said.
The government has extended the deadline for One Time Settlement (OTS) scheme of arrear water rates dues of central and state units/organisations and private industrial, commercial and other establishments.
The last date for receipt of such applications is extended up to September 30, 2023 and the last date for settlement of such applications under OTS scheme is now extended up to and March 31, 2024.
