Odisha Chief Minister Distributes KALIA Assistance to 44.56 Lakh Farmer Families on Nuakhai

Odisha Chief Minister Distributes KALIA Assistance to 44.56 Lakh Farmer Families on Nuakhai

Bhubaneswar: On the auspicious occasion of Nuakhai, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik of Odisha disbursed KALIA (Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation) scheme assistance to 44,56,000 farmer families through a video conferencing event in Bhubaneswar. The assistance, totaling Rs 2,000 per family, was provided for the Rabi crop.

Among the beneficiaries, 43,88,000 were small and marginal farmers, while 68,750 were landless farmer families. Chief Minister Patnaik expressed his pride in the state’s farmers, emphasizing their importance in development and the need for them to live with dignity.

As of now, the KALIA scheme has distributed Rs 12,500 crore to farmer families in the state. The Chief Minister encouraged children from farming families to pursue professions like medicine and engineering to bring honor to their families and the state.

Additionally, KALIA Scholarships are offered to the children of KALIA beneficiaries. The state government also covers the premium for crop insurance for farmers, with over 22 lakh farmers already registered this year.

Odisha’s government has introduced various agricultural schemes to support farmers, including direct assistance for purchasing seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and farm equipment for small and marginal farmers. Landless farmers receive livelihood assistance for activities like goat and poultry farming, beekeeping, and mushroom cultivation.

Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain praised Chief Minister Patnaik’s vision for agricultural development, highlighting the success of the KALIA scheme in reducing farmers’ dependency on private financiers and moneylenders. The state has also seen record agricultural production over the past four years.

The government has implemented gender budgeting in the scheme, allocating 30-35 percent of funds to support women. Several KALIA beneficiaries shared their experiences and expressed gratitude for the opportunities the program provided, including access to education and freedom from loans.

The event was conducted by Secretary to CM (5T) VK Pandian, attended by Development Commissioner Anu Garg, Cooperation Secretary Arvind Agarwal, and other senior officers. Officers and beneficiaries from different districts participated via video conferencing.

Principal Secretary of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee delivered the welcome address, and Director of Agriculture Prem Chandra Choudhary offered the vote of thanks at the program.