Over 50 lakh farmers benefited under KALIA scheme in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Over 50 lakh farmers have been benefited so far under state’s most populous KALIA scheme, Agriculture Minister Arun Sahoo informed the House.

Replying to questions in Assembly on second day of the budget session today, the minister said that the KALIA money has been credited to the accounts of 51,05,290 beneficiaries so far in the first phase.

The remaining 23,94,710 farmers are yet to receive the first instalment of KALIA money, Sahoo told the House.

After the formation of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government for fifth consecutive term in Odisha, the beneficiaries limit was extended to 75 lakh under KALIA scheme.

While over 23 lakh farmers are yet to get the first instalment, the beneficiaries will receive the second instalment soon, the minister said.

Worth mentioning, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik during his election campaign had promised to release two instalment of KALIA money on the first day of formation of government.