Scholarship scheme announced for children of KALIA beneficiaries

Keonjhar: With an aim to provide financial assistance to children of farmers to pursue higher education, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today announced a scholarship scheme – ‘KALIA Chhatra Bruti’.

The announcement came during a farmers’ rally in Keonjhar today.

“I want children of farmers to excel in studies. The State government will bear the education expenses of their children and therefore I have launched the ‘KALIA ChhatraBruti’ scholarship scheme,” CM Naveen said.

According to sources, children of farmers who have taken admission at government professional colleges on merit basis will be eligible for the scholarship scheme.

Under the scheme, the State government will bear the higher study expenses of children of farmers who have enrolled themselves under the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme.

The Chief Minister further stated, “Future of farmers lies with the development of their children. I want the children of farmers to become doctors, engineers and lawyers.”

CM Naveen also inaugurated 17 welfare projects worth Rs 66 crore and laid foundation stones of 47 projects worth Rs 2,100 crore for Keonjhar district.

The Chief Minister also laid foundation stone for construction of residential houses of Keonjhar police department, 50-seated skill development and training centre, girls’ and boys’ hostels in Dharanidhar Autonomous College, and piped water supply project.

Earlier in the day, addressing Mission Shakti convention at Mahuladiha Ground in Rairangpur, CM Naveen inaugurated 21 welfare projects worth Rs 45 crore and also laid foundation stones of 15 projects worth Rs 960.34 crore for Rairangpur and Karajia sub divisions. Under the Mission Shakti programme, the CM handed over seed money of Rs 15,000 each to as many as 7, 453 Self Help Groups (SHGs) of Mayurbhanj district while Rs 25 lakh each was provided to 12 block level SHG federations of the district.