Kalia: Odisha govt undecided on Kalia scheme continuation, plans new initiatives | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: The Mohan Majhi-led Odisha govt has not yet decided whether to continue or discontinue the cash incentive scheme for farmers, Kalia, a flagship project of the previous Naveen Patnaik-led govt launched before the 2019 simultaneous Lok Sabha and state assembly elections.
According to a written reply by deputy chief minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo in the state assembly, the govt has continued deliberation at a high-level on the future of the scheme.“Discussions and consultations are on,” Singh Deo told the assembly in response to a question by MLA Goutam Buddha Das.
In response to another question by MLA Sarada Prasad Pradhan, Singh Deo who holds the portfolio of agriculture and farmers empowerment said total 45.67 lakh farmers and 19.12 lakh landless agriculture households had benefited from Kalia (Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation). The scheme promised Rs 25,000 per farmer’s family in five cropping seasons and one-time financial aid of Rs 12,500 each for the landless agriculture families. Under PM KISAN Samman Nidhi Yojana central scheme, 29.73 lakh farmer families in Odisha were getting Rs 6000 each per year since 2019 in three instalments of Rs 2000. The minister said efforts are on to undertake a special drive to include left out eligible farmer families under PM KISAN.
The Majhi govt has promised to implement new policy of Samrudh Krushak Niti to buy paddy at Rs 3100 per quintal, Rs 800 more than Centre’s decided minimum support price of Rs 2300.
Similarly, it plans Krushi Vidya Nidhi Scheme to provide scholarships to children of small and marginal farmers studying in govt institutions, which may replace similar scholarship for students of farmer families covered under the existing Kalia.
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