Naveen demands Rs 10, 000 Central assistance to farmers

Surjit kumar Dhal, Bhubaneswar, Feb 21: Alleging that the Centre has completely ignored the interests of landless farmers, share-croppers and agricultural labourers in its policy for farmers and not making provisions for any help to these sections, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday reiterated his demand to hike Central assistance to at least Rs. 10,000.

Speaking at public rallies at Kanas and Brahmagiri in Puri district Patnaik said he has written to the Prime Minister in this regard, requesting him to protect the interests of the landless farmers, share-croppers and agricultural labourers in the Centre’s policy for farmers.

“The KALIA scheme has caught the imagination of the farming community and it has given them courage to live with dignity”,  the Chief Minister said, adding that this scheme introduced by the State government has become a model for others in the country to emulate.

Patnaik said so far over 16 lakh farmers have benefitted from the scheme while more than 10,000 farmers will be added to the list of beneficiaries on Thursday.

“I am keenly watching the process of selection of farmers to ensure that no genuine farmer qualifying for the benefit is left out”, he said and advised the beneficiaries to avail of other benefits like KALIA scholarship for talented students for higher education, loan to farmers without interest and also interest-free loan to members under the Mission Shakti

During the occasion Chief Minister Patnaik laid foundation for and inaugurated projects worth Rs. 251 crore in Kanas and Rs. 271 crore in Brahmagiri.