Bhubaneswar: The BJD government is all set to steal Rahul Gandhi’s thunder Friday by holding a mega convention of farmers in Puri.
After successfully snubbing Prime Minister Narendra Modi by organising two government-sponsored events coinciding with Modi’s recent programmes in the state, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will start distributing financial benefits to farmers under Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme on the same day as Rahul Gandhi’s public rally. Nearly one lakh farmers are expected to join the event in Puri.
The stage is all set for the Paribartan Sankalp Samabesh rally of Congress president Rahul Gandhi here in Odisha. Apart from the rally, Rahul will also address another programme here in the city during his one day visit to the state.
To divert the attention from Rahul’s rally, the BJD government has planned the farmers’ conclave in Puri. Sources said the ruling BJD is in no mood to give any chance to the opposition parties to gain mileage before the general elections.
In the first phase, 12.45 lakh beneficiaries will be provided financial assistance of Rs 5,000 each for Rabi crop season. The money will be transferred directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries soon after CM starts the distribution, said Cooperation secretary Krishan Kumar said.
“Around 65 lakh farmers applied for the scheme through Green Form. The draft beneficiary list will be published at all panchayat offices from January 25 to February 3 for public notice. The farmers can come forward with their objections, suggestions or information thereafter. The same process was adopted in the first phase from January 2 to 10 at the panchayat level,” he said.
Apart from the first phase 12.45 lakh farmers, rest of the beneficiaries will be selected after a detailed scrutiny, Kumar said.
“When the second phase ends February 10, we’ll publish the final list. Financial benefits to other category farmers will be given later,” he added.