Odisha CM for inclusion of landless labourers, sharecroppers under PM-KISAN

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to consider the inclusion of landless labourers, sharecroppers and vulnerable agricultural households under the PM-KISAN.

The Chief Minister said the inclusion of the communities will make PM-KISAN scheme more inclusive.

“In order to make the PM-KISAN scheme more inclusive, I would strongly request you to kindly consider the inclusion of landless labourers, share croppers and vulnerable agricultural households under the PM-KISAN,” wrote the Chief Minister to the Prime Minister.

He informed that the state government is implementing Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) to further accelerate agricultural prosperity and reduce poverty in the state.

The scheme has already been rolled out in January and has created huge interest and response amongst the farming community of the state.

“It shall be our endeavour to ensure that all eligible beneficiaries are assisted under the scheme so that no one who is eligible is left out,” said Patnaik.

He said KALIA covers 92% of the cultivators, sharecroppers and landless agriculture labourers in the state.

It recognises that livestock and fishery based activities are key drivers of economic growth in rural areas particularly for landless households as the income from wage labour alone is insufficient, said Patnaik.

He further informed that it also provides for financial assistance to vulnerable agricultural households who may not be able to take up cultivation or the livelihood activities due to various reasons.