Puri: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday said that the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Yojana, launched by the Centre, has summarily ignored sharecroppers, landless farmers, agricultural labourers and small and marginal farmers.
“It is a matter of utter regret that the Centre has not made any provision in its new scheme for these farmers,” he said while addressing public meetings at the Kanas block and Kerandia in Brahmagiri block during his one-day visit to Puri district. He said the state government has urged the Centre to take necessary steps to safeguard the interest of these left-out farmers and facilitate them to avail benefits like other beneficiaries under the PM Kisan Yojana. “Besides, the state government has also requested the Centre to increase the yearly financial assistance from Rs 6000 to Rs 10,000.
Maintaining that the KALIA scheme launched by the state government has become immensely popular, he said priority has been given to safeguard the economic livelihood of all sections of the farmer community. “The KALIA scheme has encouraged farmers to live with pride,” he pointed out.
Claiming that the KALIA scheme is widely acclaimed in the country, the Chief Minister said while 17 lakh farmers have been provided financial assistance, another 10 lakh farmers will be included in the scheme on Thursday.
“I have kept a close watch to ensure that not a single eligible farmer is left out of the scheme,” he pointed out.
The Chief Minister requested the beneficiaries to avail KALIA Scholarship scheme and interest-free loan for the farmers and he women under the Mission Shakti programme.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of several projects worth Rs 251 crore in Kanas block and Rs 271 crore in Brahmagiri block.
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