Odisha Extends KALIA Scheme for Three More Years with a Budget of Rs. 6029.70 Crores

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has announced the extension of the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme for an additional three years, spanning from 2024-25 to 2026-27. The Cabinet approved an estimated budget of Rs. 6029.70 Crores to ensure the continued support and financial inclusion of farmers.

Recognizing the pivotal role agriculture plays in the lives of the majority of the state’s population, the KALIA scheme was initially launched in 2018-19. The extension aims to streamline implementation, providing farmers with hassle-free access to financial resources and bringing them further into the economic mainstream.

KALIA, a comprehensive farmers’ welfare initiative, is designed to accelerate agricultural prosperity and progress while addressing poverty among farmers and landless agricultural households. As part of this scheme, the KALIA Scholarship was introduced to ensure the educational development of beneficiaries’ children, facilitating their pursuit of professional and technical education in various institutions.

Encouraging both small and marginal farmers, as well as landless farm families, to pursue higher education, the KALIA scholarship contributes to the overall social and financial progress of farming communities by investing in the future of their children.

In a move aimed at enhancing the convenience and benefit to farmers, the government has decided to advance the release dates of KALIA assistance. Effective from April 15 for the Kharif season and September 1 for the Rabi season, this adjustment ensures a timely infusion of financial support for the purchase of agricultural inputs.

Additionally, eligible landless agricultural households that have already received the full Rs. 12,500 installments will receive further financial support, the extent of which will be determined by the government as needed.

The extension of the KALIA scheme reflects the state’s commitment to sustaining the welfare and progress of its farming community, recognizing their crucial contribution to Odisha’s agricultural landscape.