Bhubaneswar: In keeping with the commitment of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik that no eligible beneficiary under the KALIA (Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation), the Odisha Cabinet on Wednesday enhanced the coverage of more farm families under this scheme.
Talking to mediapersons after the meeting presided over by the Chief Minister at the State Secretariat here, Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi said the scheme will include a total of 75 lakh farm families of which 50 lakh will be small farmers, marginal farmers, share croppers (actual cultivators) and 25 lakh will be landless agricultural households.
“Until now, 42.65 lakh farm families have been selected under the KALIA scheme out of which 33.25 are small farmers, marginal farmers, share croppers and 9.4 lakh are landless agricultural households. With today’s addition of 32.34 lakh farm families in the scheme, an additional 16.75 lakh small farmers, marginal farmers, share croppers and 15.6 lakh landless agricultural households will be provided with financial assistance this year along with 42.65 lakh farm families,” Padhi said.
Stating that the first installment of Rs 5000 has been released to about 8.4 lakh families, he said the remaining farm families will receive the money very soon after due verification. “The eligible farm families will be given an opportunity to apply to ensure that no eligible beneficiary is left out of the KALIA scheme,” Padhi pointed out.
