Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday gave away financial assistance under KALIA scheme to more than 53 lakh farmers of the state through video-conferencing.
The financial assistance of Rs 2,000 will be deposited in the bank account of each beneficiary through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode. A total amount of over Rs 1272 crore was disbursed under the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said he wants to see the Odisha farmers lead the life with prosperity and dignity. The KALIA scheme, launched in 2019 for small, marginal and landless farmers, has emerged as an ideal plan for the government’s financial assistance to the farmers at national level, he added.
Appreciating the contribution of the farmers’ to the national economy, he said, “After all economy activities were paralysed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the farmers revived the agriculture sector with their hard work,” Naveen said.
Stating that the state government has been demanding the Central government to increase the MSP of paddy, he said various schemes have been initiated to strengthen marketing infrastructure for agriculture produce.
The chief minister also interacted with farmers Kumari Marai of Sundargarh, Manikya Pradhan of Bargarh, Ghana Paika of Nabarangur, Dasarathi Sahu of Nayagarh and Binod Kishore Nayak of Mayurbhanj on the occasion.
Agriculture Minister Arun Sahoo and senior officers were present.
