The government of Odisha launched the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) Scheme to boost agricultural prosperity and reduce poverty. It was implemented from Rabi Season 2018-19 onwards. A progressive scheme like Kalia is motivated by the requirement to give state farmers funding options to support agriculture development and advancement in Odisha. Increased access to good financial services will help farmers, especially small and marginal landholders, earn more money and ensure agricultural production.

The Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation yojana is important for the UPSC Exams, Prelims, and Main examinations. Aspirants should review the scheme's important facts, features, and advantages. The Kalia yojana is important for General Studies Paper 1 of the UPSC prelims exam and General Studies Paper 2 of the Main examination.

This article contains important facts about the Kalia scheme, the eligibility criteria to apply for the scheme, and its features and benefits.

Also, read about the National Ganga Council for UPSC Exam here!

KALIA Scheme – An Overview

The Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation was introduced for the welfare of farmers of Odisha. With a budget of over 10,000 crores, the program has been designed to free indebted farmers from debt traps while maintaining a practical vision to combat poverty directly by giving financial help to the state’s poor agricultural households, landless laborers, and marginal cultivators. The Kalia scheme was later merged with the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme.

Features of the Kalia Scheme

The features of the KALIA scheme are listed below.

• Financial Assistance is provided for Cultivation: Each farm family is owned by a small or marginal farmer whose members have the same ration number. He will receive Rs. 25000 throughout five seasons.
  • The goal is to provide financial support for the cultivation needs.
  • Availability of Inputs for farmers, such as seeds, fertiliser, and insecticides.
• Financial Assistance for Livelihood: Each agricultural household without land will receive Rs. 12500 in cash aid for agriculturally related activities:
  • Small goat-rearing unit
  • Mini-layer unit
  • Duckery units
  • Fishery kits for fisherman
  • Mushroom cultivation and,
  • Beekeeping, etc.
• Financial Assistance for Vulnerable Agricultural Households: Each family of landless agricultural labourers or vulnerable cultivators will receive Rs. 10,000 per year in cash help for their maintenance.
  • Aging, physical impairments, and/or other risk factors will identify the agricultural households that are most vulnerable.
• Life Insurance for Cultivators and Landless Agricultural Labourers: All cultivators and landless agricultural labourers between the ages of 18 and 50. 
  • Those who have savings bank accounts would receive personal accident coverage of Rs. 2 lakh and life insurance coverage of Rs. 2 lakh at a premium cost of Rs. 330 each (Premium – Rs. 12)
  • The Odisha government will cover the farmers' portion of the 165 rupee life insurance payment and the 6 rupee accident insurance cost.
  • The age group of 51 to 70 years old landowners and landless labourers; the state will pay an accidental cover premium of Rs 12. in full.

Also, check the article on Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana.

Eligibility for KALIA Scheme

The following categories are eligible for the Kalia scheme:

• Small and Marginal Farmers can get support from the cultivators for the cultivation category.
• Landless agricultural households are eligible to get livelihood support under the Kalia scheme.
• Vulnerable agricultural households, including vulnerable cultivators and landless agricultural laborers, are eligible for financial support.
• Vulnerable cultivators or landless agricultural laborers include old age, disability, disease, or other reasons.
• The elderly, disabled, ill, etc., are included under vulnerable cultivators or landless agricultural laborers.

All categories of beneficiaries under the scheme can use the life insurance support for cultivators, landless agricultural laborers, and the interest-free crop loan component. One beneficiary will only get one benefit from each of the three categories above—help to cultivators for cultivation, support for landless agricultural households’ livelihoods, and financial assistance to vulnerable farm households—depending on their eligibility. The eligible families can also.

Check out this article on Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme.

Benefits of the KALIA Scheme

The major benefits of the KALIA scheme are:

• The scheme provides financial support of Rs.25,000 per family per year. This is given to small and marginal farmers and landless agricultural households.
• Eligible farmers receive support to buy agricultural inputs at subsidized rates to lower their input costs.
• Funds are provided to ensure adequate irrigation for farms. This includes funds provided to: 
  • dig borewells, 
  • install pumps and 
  • repair irrigation infrastructure.
• Farmers are covered under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. This protects them from financial losses due to crop failure.
• Financial aid and subsidies help strengthen the livelihood of small and marginal farmers.
• Access to subsidized inputs, irrigation support, and crop insurance aid in boosting agricultural productivity. It also boosts the income of beneficiary farmers.
• The scheme directly aims to enhance the welfare of small and marginal farmers.
• Women beneficiaries get priority under the KALIA scheme. This aims to empower and promote women in farming.
• The scheme helps reduce poverty and raise living standards among the target beneficiary groups in Odisha.

KALIA Scheme Application Process

Applicants wishing to register under the Kalia scheme can fill out the application form available at the gram panchayat office.

• After submitting the application form, the nodal officers at the Gram Panchayat level review the list of applicants available with the Gram Panchayat Level Committee and then submit the list to the District Level Committee for approval.
• Later, a draft list of Kalia scheme beneficiaries is released at each Primary Agriculture Credit Society (PACS) and Gram Panchayat level. To check the list of beneficiaries, applicants can go to the PACS, the Gram Panchayat office, or visit the official website for the KALIA scheme (kalia.odisha.gov.in).

Also, check the article on Atal Pension Yojana.

KALIA Yojana & Important Terms

Some important terms and terminologies related to the KALIA scheme are listed below.

• Farm Family: One farm family is created for each family member with the same ration number.
• Landless Labourer: An individual who has been working in agriculture for more than six months but does not own any land.

Also, check the article on MPLADS Scheme.

Conclusion

The Kalia scheme introduced by the government of Odisha will aid disadvantaged groups, including landless agricultural households, in escaping the debt cycle. It will raise income, open up employment options, and enhance agricultural output. It will empower the farmers and play a vital role in the growth and development of agriculture in Odisha.

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