Over 18 lakh beneficiaries to get Kalia assistance in second phase

BHUBANESWAR: Over 18 lakh small farmers including landless agricultural labourers are expected to get assistance in the second phase of the much-talked about Kalia (Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation) scheme of the state government.

With around 66 lakh applications received under the scheme, the state government has directed the district collectors to complete scrutiny of the applications by February 8. The second list of beneficiaries will be prepared by February 10.

“We have reviewed status of implementation of the Kalia scheme with the district collectors. We have instructed them to expedite process of selecting beneficiaries for phase-II distribution of assistance to farmers. The way we are proceeding, we are confident that we would meet the deadline,” said state agriculture secretary Saurabh Garg after a videoconferencing.

Sources said the state government would send sent second phase assistance to farmers’ accounts by February third week.

In the first phase, the state government has sent Rs 5,000 to accounts of 12.45 lakh small and marginal farmers and over 57,000 sharecroppers under the farmers’ income support scheme. Over 650 crore were so far transferred to farmers’ account directly under the scheme.

While the small farmers were given the assistance to utilize the amount in Rabi crop; the state government’s decision to provide the amount to landless labourers is to provide them alternate livelihood opportunities goat rearing unit/mini-layer unit, duckery unit, fishery kit, bee keeping and mushroom cultivation.

Amid reports that some of the banks deduct Kalia assistance from accounts of defaulting loanee farmers; the agriculture secretary said strict instructions have been issued to banks not to deduct the amount or levy any charge on the farmers.

“Farmers have complete independence to spend the amount. Banks have also agreed to cooperate,” Garg said.

Even as the state government targeted to cover around 50 lakh farmers under Kalia scheme; it has taken a decision to include all eligible beneficiaries under the scheme.

To create awareness on various aspects of the scheme, chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday flagged off Kalia Rath (awareness vehicles) which will move all the gram panchayats across the state.

A total of 150 specially designed vehicles with audiovisual facilities will move various villages. The state government will also take help of folk art forms to create awareness about the scheme.