Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched distribution of KALIA assistance among the landless farmers at a programme held at Kendrapada on Friday.
“The KALIA yojana has shown path of progress for farmers to the entire country. Small and landless farmers and sharecroppers are benefiting out of the scheme,” said the Chief Minister.
In the first phase, 3.5 lakh landless farmers were given KALIA aid of Rs 5,000 each on the day. A total of 10 lakh such farmers would be provided assistance of Rs 12,500 each under the scheme, said the CM.
Patnaik said he has a special bond with people of Kendrapada as it was the workplace of former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik.
He said that though the Union Government has introduced a scheme for farmers’ welfare, it doesn’t cover landless farmers. He has written a letter to the Prime Minister to include landless farmers in the scheme, he said.
It may be noted that as many as 12.45 lakh small and marginal farmers had earlier been given Rs 5,000 each under the KALIA scheme. The money was deposited in their bank accounts.
