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Saturday, December 22, 2018

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announces Rs 10,000 cr assistance package for farmers

With farm distress sweeping the country and the governments of several Hindi heartland states announcing mega loan waivers ahead of 2019 general election, chief minister Naveen Patnaik Friday Dec 21,2018 announced a Rs 10,180 crore programme under which farmers will get ~10,000 a year for purchase of seeds, fertilisers and insecticides as well as an interest free loan of Rs 50,000.

Effectively, a handout of Rs 10,000 to each farmer in the state, the populist move comes ahead of assembly polls which are usually held along with the general election in the state.

The state cabinet Friday Dec 21,2018 approved the scheme, titled Krushak Assistant for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA), which will be operational for the next the three years. The name of the scheme is likely to find huge resonance with the farmers as Lord Jagannath, the state’s most popular diety is popularly called Kalia by millions of his devotees. Incidentally, the announcement of the scheme comes just three days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Odisha to announce projects worth Rs 14,500 crore in the state.

“Kalia is progressive, inclusive and will make a direct attack on poverty by way of massive investment in this sector and making benefits reach the neediest through Direct Benefit Transfer mode,” said Patnaik

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