Budget disappointing, 'PM-KISAN' won't help distressed farmers: Odisha CM

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said the Interim Budget for 2019-20 was deeply disappointing in some aspects, rating the pre-election Budget 2.5 on a scale of 10.

Though Patnaik hailed the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM-KISAN), he felt the budgetary announcement did not better his government's KALIA, or Krushak Assistance for Livelihoods & Income Augmentation, scheme.

"I welcome the direct benefit transfer proposed for small and marginal farmers on lines of our KALIA scheme. However, it would have benefited the farmers more if the quantum of assistance was equal or more than our KALIA scheme, which is