Naveen Patnaik releases Rs 920 crore to 42 lakh farmers under Kalia scheme, 27.83 lakhs receive PM Kisan

Bhubaneswar, May 14 (UNI) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today released Rs. 920  crore assistance to farmers under Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation  (KALIA ) scheme on the eve of the Akshaya Tritiya and Krushak Divas.  Congratulating the farmers Mr.Patnaik announced the transfer of Rs 920 crore assistance  directly to the accounts of 42 lakh farmers for the Kharif 2021 in the state.
He hoped that all small, marginal and landless farmers’ families would utilise the assistance for agricultural activities and improvement of their livelihood.
Appreciating the farmers, the Chief Minister said the farmers are our pride and honour and there is no comparison for their sacrifice for the country and the society. During the covid pandemic last year the farmers, he said have strengthened the economy adding that no one could pay the price of the sacrifice of the farmers
The Chief Minister said he has been working and will work to ensure that ‘’ farmers of the
state live well, their income increased and their family prosper.’’
On the Covid situation, Mr Patnaik said a lockdown has been imposed to combat the second wave of Corona but clarified that there is no lockdown for undertaking any agricultural activities in the state.
He appealed to farmers to continue the agricultural activities following all Covid protocols and
to take advantage of various agricultural development schemes of the government..
The Chief Minister prayed to Lord Jaganath for good weather conditions, good crop and
development of the families of farmers and urged all people to strictly observe Covid guidelines.
The state government launched the KALIA scheme in 2019 with an objective to accelerate
agriculture, prosperity and to reduce poverty. Meanwhile, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan today urged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to initiate steps to ensure that all farmers registered under the PM Kisan Scheme in Odisha get the benefit of the PM Kissan scheme.
Taking to his twitter page Mr Pradhan said though 40,50,103 farmers have been registered under the PM Kissan scheme in Odisha but only 24,70,671 farmers had received the assistance  of Rs 494.13 crore under the scheme in the seventh installment of the scheme.

The Union Minister said after he drew the attention of the Chief Minister in March last, about  27,83 209 farmers have got the benefit of the scheme in the eighth. Instalment Mr Pradhan’s request came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi released Rs 20,667 crore assistance to 9.5 crore farmers of the country under 8th instalment of PM Kisan scheme today.
Under the scheme Rs 556.64 crore was directly transferred to the accounts of 27.83 lakh farmers of Odisha .
Mr Pradhan thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Agriculture and farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar for the assistance.