Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik kick-started the ambitious KALIA scheme from Malatipatpur here on Friday and released funds to 12.45 lakh farmers in the first phase.
Addressing lakhs of farmers, Patnaik said, “You are providing food to the State. The grains and vegetables you produce are being used in Lord Jagannath’s Mahaprasad. You are doing a noble deed. Therefore, I have named this scheme as ‘KALIA’.”
“Before starting the journey (Yatra) of ‘KALIA’ scheme, I took the blessings of Lord Jagannath today. No one can stop the KALIA Yatra. It will prove to be a milestone in the State’s economy. The scheme will help farmers improve their agricultural activities as well as their livelihood and prove a milestone for the entire nation,” the Chief Minister said.
“I always want that our farmers live a good life but providing assistance for farming only for once in a year, won’t eradicate the problem. Keeping in view that the farmers get assistance in every season, the new farmer’s scheme has been launched. Now, the farmers will get assistance for six seasons in three years under the KALIA scheme,” he said.
“Farmer, including small and marginal ones and sharecroppers, and farming labourers will get benefit from the scheme. For Rabi crop, the farmer will get an assistance of Rs 5,000 in Nuakhai on their bank account through direct benefit transfer,” Patnaik said.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister felicitated four farmers, Gandharb Parida, Prasanna Patel, Tapan Panda and Soumyajit Mohanty of Puri, Deogarh, Koraput and Mayurbhanj districts, respectively for their outstanding works in agriculture. Besides, 10 farmers were given Kalia certificates by the CM.
Earlier, the Chief Minister landed in a temporary helipad here, a few meters away from the meeting venue. Before the meeting, he first landed in the Zilla School playground and went to the Jagannath Temple for darshan of the deities. Then, he flew to Malatipatpur which is nearly 10 km from the city.