Odisha chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi launched the CM-Kisan Yojana from Sambalpur on Sunday, the day of Nuakhai, the state’s major agrarian festival. It’s primarily observed in western Odisha.

According to rituals, the first harvested crop is offered to the goddess Samaleswari in Sambalpur. Choosing Sambalpur as the venue is also significant as the area is considered the BJP’s stronghold.

Under the scheme, an eligible farmer will receive ₹ 4,000 in two instalments per annum. The first instalment will be disbursed to Nuakhai, and the rest will be credited to the beneficiary’s account in Akshaya Tritiya.

Around 46 lakh farmers are likely to benefit from the scheme. On the occasion of Nuakhai on Sunday, around ₹ 925 crores were credited to the accounts of the farmers. Landless farmers will also benefit from the scheme. The landless farmers are entitled to ₹12,500.

Launching the scheme at the GM University campus in Sambalpur, Majhi said: “A special drive will be launched across the state, and it will continue for two months. Those registered as farmers who are not included in the scheme will be included under the scheme.”

He said: “Farmers are now getting benefits from PM-Kisan and CM-Kisan programmes. The children of the farmers under the CM-Kisan programme are also entitled to get ₹2 lakh to pursue their technical courses.”

“The state government’s demand for setting up a second unit of AIIMS would soon be a reality. It is actively under the consideration of the Centre,” the chief minister added.

Majhi said all the promises made in the election manifestos are being fulfilled. He also questioned how the previous government failed to keep its promises, such as providing 35 per cent irrigation.

Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan said: “People are now getting the benefits of the double-engine government. The proposal sent by the Mohan Majhi government is immediately getting the nod of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”

Pradhan, Odisha rural development minister Rabi Naryan Nayak, local Sambalpur BJP MLA Jaynaryan Mishra and other senior leaders joined the programme.