Odisha Govt’s KALIA Aid Triggers Fresh Political Slugfest | OTV News

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha authorities on Friday began disbursement of monetary help to farmers beneath the KALIA scheme triggering a recent political slugfest within the State.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik started the fund disbursement beneath the scheme immediately and launched Rs 2,000 every to 53 lakh farmers by means of direct profit switch (DBT). A complete of Rs 12.72 crore was transferred to the financial institution accounts of the farmers.
Both the BJP and the Congress slammed the transfer of the ruling-BJD with the BJP alleging that the Odisha authorities is attempting to cowl up the prevailing discontent of the farmers throughout the State by means of releasing help beneath the scheme.
Addressing a presser, State BJP common secretary Golak Mohapatra questioned if the State has over 53 lakh farmers, why it didn’t present the record to the Centre thereby stopping the farmers from availing the advantages of the PM-Kisan scheme. The State has reportedly supplied record of solely 9 lakh farmers to the Centre.
“Most of the time, when a beneficiary search his name under PM-Kisan, they get error message ‘blocked by the State government’. The State government should clarify how the number of farmers in the State reduced to 9 lakh from 35 lakh,” alleged Mohapatra.
The Congress additionally raised objection to the variety of the farmers and alleged that the KALIA funds have been disbursed in view of the upcoming panchayat and concrete native physique elections
“The concerned minister had told the Assembly he did not have the data about the exact number of small and marginal farmers. How come the Odisha government got the data now? The panchayat and municipality elections will be held soon for which the State government has released a jumla,” mentioned Congress legislative celebration chief, Narasingha Mishra.
Meanwhile, questions are being raised why the BJD authorities, which had promised farmers to supply Rs 5,000 help in rabi in addition to kharif season, reneged on its phrases after coming to energy. It can also be alleged that the federal government had assured to proceed the scheme yearly, however failed to take action.
Besides, after 3 lakh ineligible beneficiaries had been surfaced beneath the scheme, the federal government had determined to get better Rs 170 crore from them. However, the federal government is but to make clear how a lot cash it has recovered to date and what motion has been taken towards these officers liable for inclusion of the ineligible beneficiaries within the record.
Responding to the allegations, BJD MLA Amar Satpathy mentioned, “As per the previous announcement, KALIA scheme will provide direct help to farmers by transferring funds directly to their bank account. The Centre followed our scheme in later stage.”
“Linking the scheme with election implies that the Opposition are trying to stop the assistance to farmers,” Satpathy added.
Meanwhile, protests over procurement woes proceed in several elements of the State. “We demand procurement of non-procured paddy and oppose tabling of proposed agriculture ordinance in Odisha Assembly. If our demands are not met, Delhi-like impasse will occur in Odisha in future,” mentioned farmer’s chief Saroj.
(Edited By Pradeep Singh)