The KALIA Scheme is an initiative by the Government of Odisha designed to boost agricultural prosperity and alleviate poverty by providing comprehensive financial support to vulnerable agricultural households. With a total allocation of over ₹10,000 crore, the scheme aims to rescue debt-ridden farmers, landless laborers, and marginal cultivators by offering direct cash transfers via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). It also provides support for allied activities such as small goat rearing, mini-layer units, duckery, fishery kits for fishermen, mushroom cultivation, and bee-keeping. The KALIA Scheme covers approximately 92% of the cultivators in Odisha and targets even the most vulnerable groups, ensuring that financial assistance reaches those who need it most.
Benefits
• Financial Assistance for Landless Households:
– ₹12,500/- per annum for agricultural allied activities (e.g., poultry, fishery, mushroom, beekeeping)
• Support for Vulnerable Cultivators and Landless Laborers:
– ₹10,000/- per family per year to secure their sustenance
• Life Insurance Cover:
– ₹2,00,000/- cover at a nominal premium of ₹330/- for beneficiaries aged 18-50; the Government bears half of the annual premium
– For beneficiaries aged 51-70, the entire premium is borne by the Government
• Interest-Free Crop Loans:
– Eligible vulnerable landless laborers, cultivators, sharecroppers, and agricultural households can avail crop loans up to ₹50,000/- at 0% interest
Eligibility
• Residency: The applicant must be a permanent resident of Odisha.
• Agricultural Activities: Applicants should be engaged in farming, cultivation, horticulture, or animal husbandry, either as a landowner, tenant farmer, or sharecropper.
• Household Status: The applicant’s household must be categorized as “deprived” or “vulnerable” under the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 or another state survey.
• Landownership: Applicants may own cultivable land or be sharecroppers/tenant farmers.
• Income: The annual income of the applicant must be less than ₹2.00 lakhs per annum.
• Bank Account: A bank account in the applicant’s name with a valid Aadhaar-linked number is mandatory.
• Criminal Record: Applicants should not have any criminal record or involvement in illegal activities.
Application Process
Online & Offline
• Step 01: Visit the official KALIA Scheme website.
• Step 02: Click on the “Apply Online” tab on the homepage.
• Step 03: Select the appropriate form: Green Form for farmers or Red Form for sharecroppers/landless farmers.
• Step 04: Fill in the required details including personal, bank, Aadhaar, land, and income details.
• Step 05: Upload the necessary documents (see below).
• Step 06: Submit the application and receive an acknowledgment receipt with a unique application number.
• Step 07: Your application will be verified by the concerned authorities, and if eligible, the financial assistance will be directly transferred to your bank account via DBT.
Documents Required
• Aadhaar Card: A copy of your Aadhaar card (must be linked to your bank account).
• Bank Account Details: Bank passbook or a canceled cheque showing account number, IFSC code, etc.
• Land Documents: Land passbook or land tax receipt if you own cultivable land; if you are a sharecropper, a sharecropping agreement is required.
• Income Certificate: Issued by a competent authority to verify that your annual income is less than ₹2.00 lakhs.
• Identity Proof: Voter ID, PAN card, or Driving License.
• Photograph: A recent passport-size photograph.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the KALIA scheme?
A: KALIA is a comprehensive financial assistance program aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and supporting vulnerable agricultural households in Odisha through direct cash transfers and various support measures.
Q: Who is eligible to apply?
A: All farmers engaged in agricultural activities, including landowners, tenant farmers, and sharecroppers, whose annual income is below ₹2.00 lakhs and who are permanent residents of Odisha.
Q: What are the key benefits?
A: The scheme provides annual financial assistance of ₹12,500/- for agricultural allied activities, ₹10,000/- for vulnerable and landless laborers, life insurance cover, and interest-free crop loans up to ₹50,000/-.
Q: What is the application process?
A: Applicants can apply online via the official KALIA Scheme website by selecting the appropriate form, filling in details, uploading documents, and submitting the application. Offline support is also available.
Q: What documents are required?
A: Required documents include an Aadhaar card, bank passbook/canceled cheque, land documents or sharecropping agreement, income certificate, identity proof, and a recent passport-size photograph.
Q: Can individuals from other states apply?
A: No, the scheme is exclusively for permanent residents of Odisha.
Q: Is there any age restriction?
A: There is no specific age limit mentioned for the scheme.
Q: How is the financial assistance transferred?
A: The assistance is directly transferred to the applicant’s bank account via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Q: Who verifies and sanctions the applications?
A: The applications are verified by the concerned authorities and sanctioned by the relevant officials as per the scheme guidelines.