Bhubaneswar: The State Cabinet today decided to extend Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme for a period of another three years with a total outlay of Rs 6,029.70 crore.
The State Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has approved three proposals in this regard.
Provision of funds ” and modification in the implementation mechanism for Farmers Welfare Scheme KALIA (Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation)
The State had implemented a farmers welfare scheme KALIA scheme from 2018-19, since the majority of the population of the State directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture for their livelihood, said Agriculture Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain.
The scheme aims at accelerating the prosperity and progress of agriculture and alleviating the poverty of farmers, and landless agricultural households, he said.
Besides, the State had implemented KALIA Scholarship under Farmers’ Welfare KALIA Scheme to ensure educational development of the children of KALIA beneficiaries to avail professional/ technical education in different educational institutions, as the future of the farmers family depends on the development of their children.
This will encourage Children of both small and marginal farmers, and landless farm families to pursue higher education. The social and financial progress of the farm families depend on the development of their children by availing KALIA scholarship, he pointed out.
For benefit and larger interest of the farmers of the State and to ensure the smooth purchase of agricultural inputs, the release dates of the KALIA assistance can be further advanced than the above dates i.e. April 1 on-wards for the Kharif season and September 1 onwards for the Rabi season, as decided by the State Government from time to time.
Similarly, the eligible landless agricultural households those who have already received all installments (i.e Rs.12,500/) shall be provided with additional financial support/ assistance to the extent, as decided by the Government from time to time, the Minister announced.
For hassle free and smooth implementation of this welfare scheme and to bring the farmers into the financial main stream of the society and to ensure their participation in the financial progress of the State, the State Cabinet have approved an estimated budget of Rs.6029.70 Crores for the upcoming three years (2024- 25 to 2026-27) which aims at benefiting all the farm families under KALIA schemes, he added.
The eligible landless agricultural households those who have already received all installments (Rs 12,500) will be provided with additional financial support/assistance of Rs 2,000, Shri Swain stated.
The Minister informed that the Cabinet has decided to modify the release dates of the KALIA assistance as decided by the state government from time to time. The assistance for landless agricultural households will also be released at the same time, he added.
