KALIA Scheme - Important Points for UPSC

The Odisha government took an initiative in January 2019 for the small farmers, cultivators and landless agricultural labourers through a scheme called Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA Scheme.) UPSC syllabus has a topic, ‘Government policies and interventions for the development of various sectors,’ in Mains GS-II, and KALIA scheme can be covered under it.

The KALIA scheme has been in the news recently when the talks of its merger with Centre’s Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) Yojana were out. The merger has yet not taken place.

Facts about KALIA Scheme for UPSC

The table below mentions the relevant facts about KALIA scheme for the IAS Exam preparation:

Candidates must know some other important government schemes for livelihood and income augmentation:

KALIA Scheme – Features

The following points list down the features of the Odisha’s Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation Yojana:

1. Financial Assistance for Cultivation – Each small and marginal farmers’ farm family (members who share a common ration number) will receive financial assistance of Rs. 25000/farm over five seasons
   1. The objective is to financially assist the cultivation needs
   2. Farmers can purchase inputs like seeds, fertilizers, pesticides
2. Financial Assistance for Livelihood – Each landless Agricultural Household will receive financial assistance of Rs. 12500 for Agricultural allied activities:
   1. Small goat rearing unit
   2. Mini-layer unit
   3. Duckery units
   4. Fishery kits for fisherman
   5. Mushroom cultivation and,
   6. Bee-keeping, etc.
3. Financial Assistance for Vulnerable Agricultural Households – Each family of vulnerable cultivators/landless agricultural labourers will receive the financial assistance of Rs. 10000/year for their sustenance.
   1. Old-Age, physical disabilities and/or other vulnerable reasons will define the vulnerable agricultural households.
4. Life Insurance for Cultivators and Landless Agricultural Labourers – All cultivators and landless agricultural labourers who have savings bank accounts and are in the age group of 18-50 will receive life insurance cover of Rs. 2 lakhs at the premium cost of Rs. 330; personal accident cover of Rs. 2 lakh (Premium – Rs. 12)
   1. The Odisha government will pay farmers’ share of premiums of Rs.165 for life insurance and Rs. 6 (farmers’ share) for accident cover.
   2. The cultivators and landless labourers who are in the age group of 51-70; their accidental cover premium of Rs 12. Will entirely be borne by the state government.
5. Interest Free Crop Loan – Crops loans of up to Rs. 50000 will be provided to defined farmers recognized by the gram panchayat.

KALIA Yojana & Important Terms

Aspirants can be asked about the terms that are relevant to the KALIA scheme. The list below mentions some important terms:

1. Farm Family – All the members of the family who use the same ration number are put under one farm family.
2. Landless Labourer – A person who has no land and is engaged in agriculture for more than six months.

To get the list of government schemes in India for UPSC exam and other competitive exams’ preparation, you can check the linked article.

Conclusion

The governmental schemes of centre and state governments hold immense potential in bringing right governance at the doorstep of citizens. GS-II syllabus of UPSC mains also has a sub-topic which substantiates the importance of such topics. An aspirant for his/her own practise, can fetch previous year questions on governance, social justice, polity and agriculture of UPSC Mains GS 2 and 3 from below:

KALIA Scheme – UPSC Notes:- Download PDF Here