Over one lakh farmers of Baleswar district have received Rs 5,000 each directly in their bank accounts after the launch of the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme.
The direct cash transfer under the KALIA scheme, a farmer centric flagship programme of the Naveen Patnaik Government, kicked off in Puri on December 25.
Sources said in the first phase, the State Government while released the amount in favour of around 12 lakh farmers, the highest number of beneficiaries was from Baleswar district.
“Around Rs 662 crore was disbursed among more than 12 lakh farmers across the State in the first phase, out of which about one lakh farmers are from Baleswar district. This is the first phase of disbursement and the second phase would follow after some days. The promises made by the State Government for the cause of peasants are fulfilled. I thank Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for the noble initiative,” said Baleswar MP RK Jena.
Overwhelmed by the direct cash credit into his account, Chitanya Majhi , a marginal farmer of Narharipur panchayat under Remuna block, said, “Around 1.20 pm, Rs 5,000 was credited into my account. I got the information through mobile message. I can’t believe but it is true. I thank CM Naveen Patnaik for the initiative.” Similarly, Labodhar Jena of Maharajpur , Sambhunath Barik of Boitha and many others across the district, besides expressing happiness over the direct cash transfer, also reposed faith on the State Government.