Bhubaneswar: Amidst controversy and war of words, Odisha government is all set to launch the KALIA scheme in Puri tomorrow. However, confusion still looms over the number of beneficiaries and the dates when the beneficiaries will get monetary assistance as there is no coherence in the statements of the Cooperation minister and the departmental Secretary’s statements.
As per Cooperation department secretary, Krishan Kumar, monetary assistance will be directly credited to the bank accounts of nearly 12.45 lakh beneficiaries in the first phase tomorrow. However, Minister SN Patro has been quoting contradictory numbers ranging from 2.4 lakh farmers to sometimes 22 lakh beneficiaries.
“The beneficiary list has been finalised and nearly 12.45 lakh farmers will get monetary assistance that will be directly transferred to their bank accounts tomorrow.
The second phase list will be finalised by February 10 and final list will be published subsequently,” said Kumar.
“CM Naveen Patnaik will give away the benefits to over 2 lakh farmers who will congregate in Puri, while the total number of beneficiaries of the scheme is 22 lakh,” said Patro.
More confusion crept up after Finance Minister Sashi Bhusan Behera claimed that monetary assistance will be deposited in the bank accounts of farmers on January 26.
“On Republic Day, monetary assistance under KALIA will be disbursed in the first phase,” said Behera.
Odisha government has drawn elaborate measures for the roll out of the KALIA scheme during a mega event at Malatipatpur in Puri tomorrow.