Every Bank Branch In Odisha To Provide 10 Farm Loans This Year Under ‘Balaram’ Scheme

Bhubaneswar: The Chief Secretary Asit Kumar Tripathy on Thursday directed every bank branch in the state to provide at least 10 farm loans this year. He also directed officials to provide agricultural loans to landless farmers through joint liability groups (JLGs).

The state government has decided to give relief to landless farmers in Odisha under its ‘Balaram’ scheme.

There are around 7,000 branches of banks and Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies in rural areas and small towns in the state

During a meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary, it was decided while IMAGE will coordinate to implement the scheme at the state level, the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) will coordinate at the district level.

Around 70,000 groups will get farm loans under the scheme this year. Official sources said each group will comprise five landless farmers and will get a maximum Rs 1.60 lakh loan. The state government has targeted to provide farm loans to seven lakh landless farmers in the next two years.