By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, September 8, 2024: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday launched ‘CM-KISAN Yojana’ on the occasion of the Nuakhai festival at Odisha’s Sambalpur in the presence of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The scheme aims to provide 925 crores financial assistance to 46 lakhs small and marginal farmers who are not covered under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) yojana.

“The launch of CM Kisan Yojana on the auspicious occasion of Odisha’s agricultural festibal, Holy Nuakhai, is a moment of joy for all of us. Launched CM Kisan Portal, Farmer Odisha Unified Portal for the benefit of farmers. Keeping in mind the overall development of the farmers, our government has launched the CM Kisan Yojana.

This initiative comes as part of the state government’s efforts to uplift farmers and strengthen agricultural development in Odisha. Around 46 lakh farming families of the state will benefit from this scheme. 925 crores financial assistance has been directly transferred through DBT to strengthen their financial position, which will improve their financial progress,” the CM said in a post on X.

Eligible farmers will receive a total of Rs 4,000 in two phases. The first instalment of Rs 2,000 will be distributed on Nuakhai , which begins from September 8, and the remaining Rs 2,000 will be provided on Akshaya Tritiya.

The scheme will benefit landless farmers who were excluded from the PM Kisan Yojana. The government aims to extend support to this section of the farming community through the CM KISAN Yojana.

Earlier, Majhi along with Pradhan and state ministers offered prayers at ‘Maa Samaleswari’ temple on the occasion of Nuakhai in Sambalpur.State Ministers, Suresh Pujari, Rabi Narayan Naik and Sambalpur BJP MLA Jayanarayan Mishra also partook the sacred ‘Nabanna’ (new rice) with CM Majhi.

Nuakhai is a three-day agrarian festival and the state government has declared a holiday on Monday. On this auspicious day of Nuakhai, the farmers offer new grain to the deity to welcome the new crop. After having the new rice as the offering to the God, later in the afternoon people enjoy themselves organising dance, games, etc.

Western Odisha districts viz Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Nabarangpur, Balangir, Bargarh, Subarnapur, Deogarh, Jharsuguda and Boudh celebrate the Nuakhai festival with much pomp and gaiety.