Reaching Out to Farmers

Context: The outcomes of the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme of Odisha proves that the scheme can be considered as an ideal Direct Income Support (DIS) scheme.

Outcomes of KALIA scheme

• Smoothening effect on income: As the dependency on crop loans declined. (found by the World Bank)
• Laid the foundation for a state-wide farmers database: This database can be leveraged for targeted scheme delivery beyond DIS, issuing customised agri-advisories and improving financial access.

Features of an ideal DIS scheme: Inferred from KALIA scheme. 

• Provide income support in a time-bound manner: In KALIA, Rs 2,500 crore was given as DIS to 51 lakh farmers in a four-month period.
• Identification of beneficiaries: through a three-step framework -

1. 1. Unification of state databases with “green forms”: Green forms are applications from farmers who wanted to opt-in.
   2. Verification of information: through databases like the Socio-Economic Caste Census, National Food Security Act etc.
   3. Exclusion of ineligible applicants: E.g. government employees.

• Inclusive agricultural policy-making: In KALIA, the use of technology and non-farm databases helps to include sharecroppers, tenant and landless farmers as beneficiaries.
• “Open digital ecosystems” approach in design: 3 key learnings from this approach.

1. 1. Leveraging existing databases: keeping them interoperable, modular, with open- source technology and open APIs will allow these platforms to “talk to each other”.
      • KALIA used more than 20 existing datasets.
   2. Clearly define governance, or “rules of engagement” of such databases: To ensure no possibility of misuse of personal data of citizens. (following “Privacy by design” principle ).
      • In the case of KALIA, the Odisha government obtained consent for the use of citizen data.
   3. Provide an effective grievance redressal mechanism: To ensure timely redress and carry out design iterations based on feedback from the ground.
      • Odisha established an online grievance redressal mechanism (GRM) for KALIA in 2019, which was accessible to farmers “offline” at the Common Service Centres closest to them.

Conclusion: In sum, a DIS scheme should follow an approach that leverages data to maximise citizen benefits while ensuring privacy, security and access so as to truly realise the power of digital to serve every Indian.