Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Suresh Kumar Vashisth a 1998-batch Odisha cadre IAS officer is helming the department of agriculture & farmers’ empowerment when the sector is on the cusp of monumental reforms. The onus is on him to carry forward the momentum of the agriculture sector in Odisha has got post the roll out of Krushak Augmentation for Livelihood & Income Augmentation or KALIA scheme.
Recently, Rs 920 crore was directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries under this game-changing scheme in the state’s agricultural landscape. Sources said it was the biggest ever transaction done for a government-sponsored scheme under the Aadhaar enabled payment system platform.
Cumulatively, more than Rs 8000 crore have been credited to the accounts of small and marginal farmers ever since the KALIA scheme went into operations, Vashisth’s leadership and administrative acumen is making a huge difference to how this scheme is delivering benefits to the marginalized and disenfranchised within the farm community.
On a macro level, the state’s agriculture sector is in the churn of reforms, buoyed by the leadership of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday disbursed a COVID-19 package of Rs 386 crore for landless farmers under KALIA “Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation” Scheme. According to the state government, 18 lakh registered farmers will be benefited from the scheme and the money will be directly deposited in their bank accounts. Under the assistance, each landless farmer would get additional Rs 1,000 apart from the instalment under the KALIA scheme.
COVID has had a profound effect on the economy. It was the agriculture sector in the first wave that saved our economy. The second wave of lockdowns has had a profound effect on people’s livelihoods. That is why the state government has announced COVID packages for various categories of people like farmers, labourers, street vendors, dairy farmers and others. The agriculture sector’s dynamics need the vision and leadership of Vashisth.
Earlier, he served as the private secretary of former Union tribal affairs minister Jual Oram. Vashisth also had a stint as the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Food & Public Distribution during his central deputation.
Do read the following article also – https://interviewtimes.net/suresh-kumar-vashisth-shining-as-principal-secretary-of-department-of-agriculture/
