Odisha Reduces Farmer’s Scheme Assistance | 11 Dec 2019
Why in News
Recently, the Odisha government has reduced the financial assistance given to farmers under the KALIA scheme to Rs 4,000 per annum from Rs 10,000.
- The reduction of financial assistance is the result of the merger of the Odisha government’s Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme with the Centre’s Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN).
- The merger will help to synergise the motto of both the schemes and also to cover a larger population of farmers in the state.
- However, the landless cultivators in the state will continue to get assistance from KALIA i.e Rs 10,000 annually since they are not considered under PM-KISAN.
KALIA Scheme
- KALIA or “Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation” scheme was launched by the Odisha Government for farmer’s welfare.
- All farmers are provided Rs 10,000 per family as assistance for cultivation.
- The scheme is being seen as a viable alternative to farm loan waivers.
- Small and marginal farmers, landless agricultural households, vulnerable agricultural households, landless agricultural labourers and sharecroppers (actual cultivators) are eligible under different components of the scheme.
PM-KISAN
- PM-KISAN or Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi is a central sector scheme launched in 2019.
- Under the scheme, ₹6,000 per year are provided to farmers holding cultivable land of up to two hectares.
- The scheme does not cover tenants and landless farmers in the country.