KALIA scheme beneficiaries to get monetary assistance by Jan 26

Bhubaneswar: Amidst the hue and cry over the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme, Odisha Cooperation Minister SN Patro on Saturday said that the beneficiaries under the scheme will get monetary assistance by January 26.

"Money will be directly credited to the bank accounts of nearly 12.4 lakh farmers who are having regular transactions with us right from selling paddy, purchasing seeds and urea. Besides, the farmers who have recently applied under the KALIA scheme will also get assistance by January 26 after necessary verfications by concerned officers," said Patro.

District collectors have been asked for the verfication of the applications following which the applicants will also get the assistance by January 26, he said, adding, "BJP too has praised the KALIA scheme."

The State government has earmarked Rs 10,180 crore for the KALIA scheme in 3 years. The scheme aims at providing financial, livelihood, cultivation and insurance support to small, marginal and landless farmers.

Earlier, Odisha Congress had alleged that the printing of banners, posters, leaflets and stickers for the KALIA scheme were done without tender agreements which resulted in financial irregularities to the tune of Rs 15 crore. The party even has demanded a high-level probe into the matter.

Similarly, the State BJP unit alleged that though the state government is claiming that the KALIA scheme is for the benefit of farmers, it is being used as a mechanism to distribute funds to party workers.