Ahead of Lok Sabha polls, Odisha extends KALIA scheme for three more years

Similarly, the state had implemented the KALIA scholarship to ensure the educational development of the children of KALIA beneficiaries so that they avail of professional and technical education in different educational institutions, Swain said.

For hassle-free and smooth implementation of this welfare scheme and to bring the farmers into the financial mainstream and ensure their participation in the financial progress of the state, the cabinet has approved an estimated budget of ₹6,029.70 crore for the upcoming three years (2024-25 to 2026-27) which aims at benefiting all the farm families under KALIA scheme, Swain said.

Beneficiary farmers used to get ₹4,000 per year as KALIA assistance for undertaking cultivation.

The cabinet decided that eligible landless agricultural households that have already received all the instalments (₹12,500) will be provided with an additional financial assistance of ₹2,000.

The minister said financial assistance is being provided to the KALIA beneficiaries twice in a year before the cropping seasons from April 1 onwards for the Kharif season and after September 1 for the Rabi season.

Now, the cabinet has decided to modify the release dates of the KALIA assistance as decided by the state government from time to time. The assistance for landless agricultural households will also be released at the same time, he added.

The Odisha cabinet, which has approved a total of 16 proposals, also accorded its nod for allotment of tenements to 515 eligible displaced families from erstwhile East Pakistan and Burma repatriates free-of-cost, Chief Secretary PK Jena said in the press conference.

These displaced persons from erstwhile East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh) and Burma repatriates have settled in the Sunabeda municipality area in Koraput district since 1964. Now they will have a permanent title and ownership over the land and structures existing over such land, he said.

The Odisha government has also decided to make the recently released Hindi movie '12th Fail' tax-free. The theme of the film carries a strong message of being determined in the face of all adverse situations and never losing hope, Jena said.

Further, the cabinet has decided to amend the Odisha Semiconductor Manufacturing and Fabless Policy, 2023.

As per the revised provisions, he said, mega projects exceeding ₹500 crore in investment can now access an upper limit of ₹25 crore per annum for a span of seven years towards interest subsidy, as the previous 5% capping for interest subvention has been eliminated.

Additionally, such mega projects are entitled to reimbursement of R&D expenditures up to ₹2 crore annually for 10 years. In terms of skill development, eligible units will receive reimbursement of up to ₹2 crore per annum for 5 years to facilitate the training of their employees engaged in core operations, the chief secretary added.