Bhubaneswar, 30 October (H.S.): More than 35.38 lakh eligible farmers in Odisha have received a total of Rs 707.60 crore under the 24th instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme. An amount of Rs 2,000 each has been transferred directly to their bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the nationwide disbursement from Banaskantha in Gujarat on Friday. More than 9.34 crore farmers across the country received a total of Rs 18,690 crore under the scheme.

In Odisha, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi attended the state-level PM-KISAN Utsav Diwas programme and watched the live telecast of the Prime Minister's event. Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture and Farmers' Empowerment Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Law, Works and Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi, Ekamra-Bhubaneswar MLA Babu Singh, Khordha MLA Prashant Kumar Jagadev and other ministers and legislators were also present.

The state-level programme was organised at the Krushi Shiksha Sadan of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) in Bhubaneswar. On the occasion, the Chief Minister interacted directly with farmers from different parts of Odisha.

Organised by the State Agriculture and Farmers' Empowerment Department, the celebration was also held across all districts, blocks, panchayats, Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) and mandis.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Majhi said farmers were not merely agricultural producers but the Annadatas who sustained society. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had introduced several transformative initiatives from the beginning of his tenure to ensure farmers received their rightful entitlements and greater economic security.

The Chief Minister said the state government was taking special measures to ensure that no eligible farmer in Odisha was deprived of the benefits of the PM-KISAN scheme. He urged farmers to visit their nearest revenue or agriculture office and complete their registration on the AgriStack portal.

Emphasising the importance of the agricultural sector, Majhi said the progress and economic empowerment of farmers would drive the overall development of Odisha.

The Chief Minister said that alongside the Centre's PM-KISAN scheme, the state government was implementing the CM-KISAN scheme with its own resources. Under the scheme, small and marginal farmers receive financial assistance of Rs 4,000 annually, while landless agricultural households are provided Rs 12,500 as livelihood support.

Farmers from urban areas and those belonging to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) have also been included under the scheme.

He further highlighted the Krushi Vidya Nidhi scheme, which provides scholarships to children of CM-KISAN beneficiaries pursuing higher education in medicine, engineering, agriculture and other technical and allied disciplines.

Highlighting the expansion of educational support for farmers' children, Majhi said 13,923 students had received scholarships worth Rs 53.69 crore under the Krushi Vidya Nidhi scheme in 2024-25.

In 2025-26, the scheme achieved a record by extending benefits to 68,910 students, with a total disbursement of Rs 291.60 crore. The number of beneficiaries increased nearly fivefold compared with the previous year.

Describing the achievement as unprecedented in the state's agricultural history, the Chief Minister said the government was committed to ensuring better educational opportunities for the children of farming families.

The Chief Minister also referred to the state's Samruddha Krushak Yojana, under which farmers are being paid Rs 3,100 per quintal for paddy. He said lakhs of farmers had registered under the scheme this year, strengthening their financial position.

Referring to crop damage caused by incessant rainfall, floods and post-cyclone rainfall in several districts, Majhi assured farmers that the government would stand by them in times of distress.

Whatever the adversity, your government and the Chief Minister have always stood with you and will continue to do so, he said.

He added that crop losses would be assessed and eligible farmers would receive appropriate compensation at the earliest in accordance with the prescribed norms.

Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, addressing the programme, said the state government had successfully implemented several important initiatives, including PM-KISAN and CM-KISAN, for the comprehensive welfare of farmers.

Referring to the floods caused by Cyclone Arnab, he said farmers affected by the disaster would be provided assistance as soon as possible based on the assessment of crop damage.

He assured that the state government would continue to stand with farmers during natural calamities such as floods and cyclones and extend all possible support to protect their livelihoods.

Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Agriculture and Farmers' Empowerment Department Sachin Ramchandra Yadav, departmental Director Subhranshu Mishra, Subrata Kumar Panda and other senior officials were present at the programme.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda