Cowdung sellers under the Godhan Nyay Yojana will get their first payment on August 5, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel announced on Thursday.
Addressing a review meeting of the Forest Department here, he said the unique Godhan Nyay Yojana began on July 20. The first payment will be made on the 15th day - August 5.
Asking the Chief Secretary to chair a meeting of all banks for this work, Baghel said the money will be credited directly into the bank accounts of the cowdung sellers.
The scheme involves buying cowdung from cattle owners and turning them into eco-friendly vermi-compost to be sold to farmers.
The Chief Minister demanded a time table for procurement of cowdung.
Baghel also said that Ayurvedic companies should be encouraged to establish processing plants in Chhattisgarh.
He underlined the need to set up a cold storage network across the state for safe storage of agriculture, garden and forest crops. The cold storages should be run by the Agriculture and Horticulture Department on PPP model.
Baghel told the meeting that youngsters who have returned to Bastar from other states should be given most employment opportunities through minor forest produce collection, Panchayat and Rural Development Department and Godhan Nyay Yojana.
He said that special attention should be paid towards marketing the minor forest produce.
The meeting was attended by Agriculture and Water Resource Minister Ravindra Choubey, Forest Minister Mohammad Akbar, Urban Administration Minister Dr Shiv Kumar Daharia, School Education Minister Dr Premsai Singh Tekam and Health Minister T.S. Singh Deo, via video conferencing. Senior officials were also present.