Bhubaneswar: Ahead of elections, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday released financial assistance of Rs 1293.75 crore to the beneficiaries of Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme.
While making the payment, the Chief Minister said that every farmer’s family should live with respect and become strong so that they can contribute to the development of the State. Shri Patnaik also noted that education not only strengthens a person but the whole family and the society.
This substantial financial boost is aimed at enhancing agricultural livelihoods and fostering the overall well-being of farmers throughout Odisha.
The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said 46 lakh beneficiaries were paid Rs 2,000 each under the scheme. The financial assistance of Rs 933 crore was deposited in the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.
Additionally, a sum exceeding Rs. 360 crores was disbursed to 18 lakh eligible landless agricultural households, providing one-time additional financial support of Rs. 2,000 to those who have already received all three installments of their livelihood cash support under the scheme (i.e. Rs. 12,500 in total).
In total, Rs. 1293.75 crore was released on this day to more than 64 lakh KALIA beneficiaries.
Highlighting the scheme’s uniqueness, Patnaik emphasized its role in providing timely financial aid to farmers during the agricultural cycle, thereby serving as an initial investment for cultivation purposes.
CM Shri Patnaik also inaugurated the KALIA Centers in all the 30 districts to provide agriculture related technical advice to the farmers. Patnaik had earlier announced the extension of the KALIA programme for three more years while the state government will spend Rs 6030 crore for this.
Furthermore, the provision of KALIA Scholarships for the children of beneficiaries signifies the government’s commitment to holistic socio-economic development.
Meanwhile, 5T secretary VK Pandian noted that the farmers in Odisha has got financial assistance of Rs 13793 crore under the KALIA scheme during the last five years
Since its inception, KALIA has demonstrated its efficacy in uplifting the socio-economic status of farmers. The scheme’s inclusiveness, facilitated by direct benefit transfers (DBT) to beneficiaries’ bank accounts, has played a pivotal role in breaking the cycle of dependency on non-institutional finance and moneylenders.
By disbursing over Rs. 1293.75 crore in KALIA assistance, the Chief Minister reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to agricultural prosperity and the welfare of farmers in Odisha.
