CM Naveen releases Rs 877 cr to 43 lakh farmers under Kalia scheme on Utkal Dibasa

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik releases financial assistance to 43 lakh farmers under KALIA scheme on the occasion of Utkal Dibasa.

The Government of Odisha will provide Rs 2,000 assistance money to over 43 lakh small and marginal farmers and landless farm workers under Kalia (Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation) scheme.

The government directly transferred around Rs 877 crore to their bank accounts.

On this occasion, congratulating the farmers Utkala Dibasa, the Chief Minister said that the development of the state is linked with the welfare of the farmers, “so we started the new financial year by providing welfare on Utkal Dibasa”.

Secretary to CM (5T) VK Pandian conducted the programme. In this program, advisors of KALIA Yojana, Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena, and Development Commissioner Anu Garg were present.

However, farmers in Jharsuguda would not get the amount on Tuesday as the model code of conduct came into force in the district after the Election Commission of India on Monday announced by-election. Farmers in Jharsuguda will get the amount after the bypoll, a government officer said.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced the Kalia scheme in December, 2018, ahead of the 2019 simultaneous Lok Sabha and state assembly elections. Under the Kalia Scheme, the state government transfers Rs 4,000 in two installments to the farmers account.

The state government provides financial aid to 14 lakh landless farm workers and 53 lakh farmers of the state with this scheme. This amount is deposited directly into the beneficiary’s bank account.