KALIA Scheme
The KALIA (Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation) Scheme is an initiative by the Odisha Government, launched in January 2019. It aims to enhance agricultural prosperity and reduce poverty in Odisha. The scheme provides financial assistance to cultivators, landless agricultural households, and vulnerable agricultural households. Benefits include Rs. 10,000 per family for cultivation, Rs. 25,000 per farm family over five seasons for purchasing inputs, Rs. 12,500 for allied activities like goat rearing and fishery kits, especially benefiting the SC & ST population, and Rs. 10,000 per family per year for vulnerable agricultural households.
The scheme also includes a life insurance cover of Rs. 2 lakh and a personal accident cover of the same amount, with premiums partially or fully covered by the government. Additionally, it offers crop loans up to Rs. 50,000 at 0% interest. It’s designed to be inclusive, covering small and marginal farmers, landless agricultural laborers, and sharecroppers, with a total coverage of 50 lakh families.
The KALIA scheme represents a significant step towards empowering farmers, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and reducing dependency on farm loan waivers, with a focus on including marginalized communities in its benefits. The total expenditure over three years until 2020-21 is estimated at Rs. 10,180 crores. The scheme is seen as a viable alternative to farm loan waivers and aims to directly address the issues faced by farmers in Odisha.
