Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced the 'CM-KISAN Yojana' on September 8, 2024, on the auspicious occasion of the Nuakhai festival, in a significant move to support small and marginal farmers in Odisha. The launch of scheme took place in Sambalpur, with Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in attendance. This new scheme is set to provide financial assistance worth Rs 925 crores to benefit approximately 46 lakh farmers who have not been covered under the existing Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme.
CM-Kisan Portal also Launched under CM-KISAN Yojana
The Chief Minister highlighted the significance of the scheme, stating that the launch on the sacred day of Nuakhai was a joyous moment for all. He emphasized that the CM-KISAN Yojana, along with the introduction of the CM Kisan Portal and the Farmer Odisha Unified Portal, aimed to promote the development of the farming community. The scheme seeks to improve the financial well-being of farmers through direct benefit transfers.
The financial aid under this scheme will be provided in two phases. Farmers will receive Rs 4,000, with the first instalment of Rs 2,000 being disbursed on the occasion of Nuakhai, which began on September 8. The second instalment of Rs 2,000 is scheduled to be distributed during Akshaya Tritiya. The primary beneficiaries of the CM-KISAN Yojana are landless farmers who were previously excluded from the PM-KISAN scheme.
Nuakhai, a three-day agrarian festival in Odisha, celebrates the new harvest, with farmers offering fresh grain to the deity as a mark of gratitude. After this ceremonial offering, the community engages in festivities, including dances and games. Prominent state leaders, including Ministers Suresh Pujari, Rabi Narayan Naik, and Sambalpur MLA Jayanarayan Mishra, joined Chief Minister Majhi in partaking in the sacred 'Nabanna' or new rice offering.
The Odisha government has declared a state holiday on September 9 to mark the festival's celebrations. This initiative is a part of the state's broader efforts to uplift the farming sector and promote agricultural development in Odisha.
