The State Government has launched the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme to accelerate agricultural prosperity and reduce poverty in the State.
This scheme is progressive and inclusive. It covers 92 per cent of the cultivators, loanee as well as non-loanee farmers, sharecroppers (actual cultivators) and landless agriculture labourers.
It also specifically takes care of vulnerable agricultural families identified through Gram Panchayats and makes crop loans available at 0 per cent interest. It has been programmed to cover about 30.16 lakh small/ marginal farmers/sharecroppers and 5 lakh landless agricultural households this year.
The KALIA scheme is found to be more beneficial in comparison to Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi of Government of India. While under the scheme direct income support of Rs 10,000 per year for small and marginal farmers having land up to 5 acres will be provided, individual beneficiary will get Rs 25,000 in five installments spread over a period of two and a half years.
However, under the Central scheme, direct income support of Rs 6,000 per year for small and marginal farmers having land up to 2 hectares will be provided. While the State scheme stands apart in inclusiveness and covers all farmers, including landless farmers, sharecroppers and agricultural labourers (92% of all farmers of Odisha), in the Central scheme 12 crore farmers with landholding to be included across the country. There is nothing about landless farmers, sharecroppers and agricultural labourers.
KALIA has been programmed to cover 30.16 lakh small and marginal farmers including sharecroppers, 10 lakh landless households for livelihood support and 10 lakh vulnerable agricultural families.
Around Rs10,000 income support to be disbursed in two instalments per year during Rabi and Kharif seasons for landholding farmers. Besides, there is financial assistance of Rs10,000 per year for landless, agricultural labourers and vulnerable farmers households. Rs12,500 for landless agricultural household for allied activities including livestock and fisheries, etc.
Under the Central scheme, cash will be transferred directly to farmers’ accounts in three equal installments of Rs 2,000 each. Specifics of the cycle of payments will be defined.
Rs10,180 crore has been earmarked for KALIA over three years. Rs 20,000 crore will be allocated for disbursal of first instalment which has already been transferred to accounts of over 13 lakh farmers.
While the KALIA scheme is effective from December, 2018, the first installment will be paid before March. Robust scientific process for identifying actual and eligible beneficiaries along with smooth transfer has already started. However, under the Central scheme, the roadmap of beneficiary selection and transfer is yet to be defined. Massive backend exercise needed, while time at hand is short.
Comprehensive social security through life insurance and personal accident cover of Rs 2 lakh each for every farmer is there in KALIA scheme. For all farmers affected by natural calamities, there is interest subvention of 2 per cent and prompt repayment incentive of 3 per cent on re-scheduling loans. The State Government has already decided to transfer the funds on Akshya Trutiya for Kharif assistance and on Nuankhai for Rabi season well before the unset of season.
On the contrary, there is no specific time period mentioned for transfer of funds to the farmers under the Central scheme.
Under KALIA, detail calendar of operation as well as dateline has been fixed starting from enrolment of farmers to transfer of funds for smooth implementation of scheme. 12, 45,490 small/marginal farmers and 57,614 sharecroppers have already been selected and an assistance of Rs 5,000 each has been transferred to their accounts. Total Rs 651.554 crore has been transferred to their account till January 31 through DBT mode.
But no specific dateline or calendar of operation has been prepared by Central Government to run its scheme.