Opposition accuses govt of misusing SDCF for KALIA scheme

The opposition Congress and the BJP Thursday came down heavily on Odisha's BJD government and accused the state of misusing the State Disaster and Contingency Fund (SDCF).

In its bid to fund the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme, the state government has withdrawn Rs 734.66 crore from the SDCF.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan of BJP came down heavily on the state government for announcing KALIA scheme without making budgetary provision for this.

"This is unfortunate to divert money from the SDCF," Pradhan said.

On the other hand, the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Niranjan Patnaik said that the state government should not withdraw money from SDCF for any purpose other than disaster or emergency.

"For the first time in the history of state administration the government has withdrawn money from SDCF for other purpose," the OPCC president said.

Alleging that the government violated all previous rules, Patnaik said, "This shows how the state government is utilising the system to regain power."