The new Financial Year 2021-22 was officially inaugurated on Thursday by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, and to mark the event, he transferred Rs 693.94 crore as input cost for Rabi season to the accounts of 34 lakh farmers of the State under the much touted KALIA scheme. "It is heartening to note that KALIA has impacted lives of 37 lakh farmers as well as 17 lakh landless farmers. It is the only scheme in the country which provides benefits to the landless poor," the CM said.
Patnaik also pointed out that the farmers are the backbone of the economy. “During the pandemic they made us proud. We are proud that for them we are getting the 'Krushi Karman' Award continuously in a row. Their sacrifice and hard work made the State proud,” said Patnaik. "I am always with the farmers. They deserve to get more than one half of the present MSP and we would continue our fight for the implementation of MS Swaminathan Committee recommendations," Patnaik asserted.
Speaking on the occasion, Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment Minister Aruna Kunar Sahoo said that KALIA scheme has become a role model for others to follow. Agricultural Production Commissioner Raj Kumar Sharma placed welcome address and 5T Secretary V K Pandian coordinated the programme.