Majhi disburses Rs 1K cr for farmers on Akshaya Tritiya
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday disbursed Rs 1,025 crore for 51 lakh farmers under CM Kisan Assistance Scheme during Krushak Dibas held on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. Financial assistance of Rs 2,000 each was credited to the bank accounts of farmers through the DBT facility as Majhi, accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo, pushed the button at a function at Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) farm.
The Chief Minister also participated in 'Akhi Muthi Anukula' and Bhumi Pujan rituals. The beneficiaries included small, marginal, landless and tribal farmers. For the first time, 25,000 farmers from urban areas have been included under the CM-KISAN scheme, marking a significant expansion in the government's outreach to cultivators, Majhi said. The Chief Minister said needy farmers are being provided Rs 2,000 each ahead of the kharif crop to purchase seeds, fertilisers and other essential items. On September 8, 2024, the State government had rolled out CM-KISAN Yojana, which then benefited around 46 lakh farmers.
Under the scheme, the farmers are given Rs 4,000 financial assistance per annum on two occasions – Akshaya Tritiya and Nua Khai — to assist them for kharif and rabi crops. 'I am a farmer by birth and used to work in fields along with my father during my college days,' Majhi recalled.
The Chief Minister said since the BJP came to power in the State in 2024, the administration has been continuously making efforts to increase the income of farmers. 'The previous government kept silent by bringing only a resolution in the Assembly for MSP. We had promised, kept our word and gave Rs 3,100 MSP. In the next five years, we have set a target of providing irrigation facilities in 15 lakh hectares with an investment of about Rs 1 lakh crore,' Majhi said.
The Chief Minister said the State is taking steps to set up cold storage facilities in every subdivision. 'To increase the income of the farmers, we are providing necessary assistance with discounts for fish farming, animal husbandry, poultry and duck farming along with agriculture,' Majhi said.
The Opposition Congress also observed 'Akshaya Tritiya' celebrations with OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das, Leader of Congress Legislature Party (CLP) Rama Chandra Kadam, former ministers Niranjan Patnaik, Suresh Routray and others performing 'Akhi Muthi Anukula' at Kalyanpur village near famous Dhauli peace pagoda here.
The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leaders also performed the the ritual of sowing the first seeds of the season at a village under Purana Pradhan gram panchayat under Balianta block.
In a message, former chief minister and Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly, Naveen Patnaik, in a post on X, said: 'My heartfelt greetings to the people of the State on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya and Akhi Muthi Anukula. May the blessings of the Lord bring good harvest and happiness and prosperity to the lives of the farmer brothers and sisters. #AkshayTritiya.'
Akshaya Tritiya is considered the most auspicious day for the people of Odisha to begin any work. Farmers traditionally start cultivation on this day when both the Sun and the Moon are believed to be in their most favourable positions.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
15 minutes ago
- India Today
Two more Naxals gunned down by security forces in Chhattisgarh, four killed so far
Security forces on Saturday gunned down two more Naxals during an ongoing anti-Naxal operation in the dense forest region of the National Park area in Bijapur district. With these fresh encounters, the total number of Naxals eliminated over the past three days has risen to four, including two high-ranking Maoist operation, which began earlier this week, has led to the deaths of top Naxal leader, who was Central Committee member, Sudhakar alias Gautam, carrying a bounty of Rs 1 crore, and Bhaskar Rao alias Mailarapu Adellu, who had a combined bounty of Rs 45 lakh across Telangana and was the Secretary of the Mancherial-Komarambheem (MKB) division of the CPI (Maoist) Telangana State Committee and also a member of its Special Zonal Committee. On Friday, security personnel recovered Bhaskar's body along with an AK-47 rifle, explosives and other arms. Earlier, on the first day of the operation, Sudhakar was killed and an automatic rifle was seized from the encounter continued through the night into Saturday, with security forces recovering additional automatic weapons from the latest gunfight. The large-scale operation remains active as forces continue combing the forested terrain in pursuit of remaining Watch IN THIS STORY#Chhattisgarh
Time of India
26 minutes ago
- Time of India
Telangana government proposes to expand metro rail in Hyderabad
HYDERABAD : The Telangana government has decided to expand Metro Rail network here by over 86 kms. Briefing reporters on Thursday night after the state cabinet meeting, Information and Public Relations Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy said it was decided to propose to the Centre to take up the metro rail expansion at a cost of Rs 19,579 crore in partnership with the state. He urged Union Ministers from Telangana G Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar and BJP Lok Sabha member from Malkajgiri Eatala Rajender to persuade the Centre to agree to the proposal. The cabinet also decided to name the proposed earth sciences university in Bhadradri-Kothagudem after late prime minister Manmohan Singh. Singh was instrumental in the formation of Telangana during the previous UPA regime, the minister recalled. The cabinet decided to provide financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh to the kin in the event of accidental death of a woman Self-Help Group (SHG) member, he said. Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, who was also present at the press conference, said the cabinet decided to release a Dearness Allowance (DA) to the state government employees immediately and give another DA after six months. Vikramarka, who heads a cabinet sub-committee on issues of employees, said a trust would be formed on the issue of health cards of employees. Every employee would contribute Rs 500 per month and the government would contribute an equal amount in a year. The amount would be assigned to the proposed trust which would be headed by the Chief Secretary. It will have the representatives of employees, he said.
New Indian Express
31 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Congress names four nominees for legislative council; eyes Lakhan Jarkiholi's crucial vote
BENGALURU: The Congress has announced the party's four nominees for the State Legislative Council. They are: Dinesh Amin Mattu, media advisor to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah; Arathi Krishna, deputy chairperson, Karnataka NRI Forum; Ramesh Babu, chairman, the party media cell; and Sagar, Dalit leader. The names were cleared by the party high command. They would be sworn-in after getting the assent of governor. With their swearing-in, Congress will have 37 members in the 75-member House, the same as the BJP-JDS combine. All eyes are now on the independent, Lakhan Jarkiholi, brother of minister Satish Jarkiholi. Lakhan's vote could shatter or solidify the balance of power in the House. If the Congress wins him over, the party will seize both the chairman and deputy chairman posts, currently held by the BJP. It was Lakhan's brother, Ramesh Jarkiholi, who toppled the Congress coalition by defecting to the BJP. Ramesh might yet convince Lakhan to back the BJP-JDS alliance, ensuring status quo. There has been a precedent of having a person from another party as chairman of the Upper House. When Ramakrishna Hegde was the CM, Congress member Rehman Khan was chairman for about two years. If the Congress does get Lakhan's vote, the question is who will become chairman and deputy chairman. Veteran BK Hariprasad was once seen as a frontrunner. Now he has been elevated as the party general secretary for Haryana. There is no clarity on what his next role could be. Minister Bose Raju, Chief Whip Saleem Ahmed and former minister Nasir Ahmed could emerge as choices, as sources say the party would assign roles according to its priorities.
