The Odisha Government transferred Rs 693.94 crore to the bank accounts of 3.4 million farmers under its flagship Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme
State to also set World-class core sample laboratory and develop select rural habitats as smart villages akin to smart cities
The decision to reduce the Kalia assistance was taken after the Odisha government merged the Kalia scheme with the Centres Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi
According to the provisions of the 'Kalia' scheme, farmers, mostly small and marginal cultivators, are entitled to get Rs 10,000 in two instalments for two crops in a year
State schemes such as Telangana's Rythu Bandhu and Odisha's Kalia are working more efficiently than Centre's PM-KISAN
Says cutback in funds will adversely affect inter-state connectivity, hails enhanced allocation for rail projects
Children of farmers who have taken admission at Government Professional colleges on merit basis will be eligible for the scholarship scheme
The direct cash transfer was done under the scheme titled 'KALIA' or Krushak Assistance for Livelihoods & Income Augmentation (KALIA) hailed as the best conceived programme for agrarian distress