Patnaik launches DBT scheme for farmers

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today launched the 'Direct Benefit Transfer' scheme for farmers and promised digging of at least one lakh borewells to enhance irrigation facilities in the state.
Patnaik said this while addressing a meeting marking the celebration of the Akshya Trutiya festival at laxminarayanpur village near Pipili. The day is also observed as the 'Krushak Divas'.
The first beneficiary of the DBT scheme was Ramesh Rout of Laxminarayanpur area. The seeds subsidy amount was deposited in Rout's bank account, an official said.
Under the DBT scheme, the farmers would get themselves registered online to purchase seeds and get the subsidy amount in their bank accounts directly, Patnaik said.

Optimistic about a good rainfall as per the prediction of the IMD, Patnaik said a number of steps were being taken up keeping the natural calamities into consideration.