Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today disbursed financial assistance of Rs 2,000 each to 41 lakh small farmers and 85,000 landless farmers in the State amounting to a total of Rs 869 crore under the flagship Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme.
“On this auspicious day, I am very happy by providing KALIA assistance to my farmer brothers and sisters,” said Patnaik.
Rs 2,000 has been directly credited to the bank accounts of all, he added.
“Nuakhai is the festival of Mother Earth. All of us are blessed by Mother Earth because of the hard work of our farming brothers. So farmers are our pride and glory,” he said.
Describing the KALIA scheme as the best scheme for farmers in the country, the Chief Minister said that
it has created hope and confidence among the small farmers.
It has been also helpful in securing the life and livelihood of landless farmers, he added.
“On the occasion of Akshay Tritiya last May, more than 800 crore rupees were given to our farmer brothers. I am hopeful, this assistance will be of great help in carrying out your farming work,” said Patnaik.
He further assured the farmers to provide assistance soon for crop damage in the recent flood after a quick damage assessment.
“I want to tell you, I am with you all the time,” the Chief Minister said.
“Our farmers have brought glory to Odisha. They have brought fame to the State in food security. So all the people of the State are indebted to the farmers,” he pointed out.
