Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday said the Centre should have enhanced quantum of assistance to farmers under PM Kisan Yojana in the Union Budget and made it at par with the Odisha government’s KALIA scheme.
“Apart from this, landless labourers and sharecroppers should also have been included in this scheme,” the Chief Minister said.
While welcoming higher allocation for sectors like Health; Education; Skill Development; Drinking Water; Livelihood Mission; and Women & Child Development, the Chief Minister expressed concern over decreased allocation for MGNREGA, core schemes for SC, ST and other vulnerable groups and pension under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP).
The Chief Minister also said that though the Union Budget lays emphasis on rural connectivity through PMGSY, housing through PMAY and Swachh Bharat Mission, these need to be backed by the allocation of funds.
