Gauthans (cowsheds) in Chhattisgarh's villages have become the backbone of the rural economy.
One such Gauthan is in Jevartala village in Balod district. Spread over seven acres, three and a half acres is reserved for pasture while Napier grass is planted in about 1 acre area.
It has helped improve people's lives and has turned into a multi-activity center. Many activities are carried out here by villagers such as animal husbandry, compost production and dairy farming.
Purushottam Das Sahu, Head of the Gauthan Samiti, said about 750 out of the total 764 cattle in the village are brought to the Gauthan daily by cattle owners.
The Gauthan procures 7 to 12 quintals of cow dung every day. The Sharda Women Self Help Group has been tasked with making vermicompost from the dung.
Till now, the group has sold 624 quintals of vermicompost through the Tribal Service Cooperative Society in Jewartala. Cow urine is also being purchased. So far, 1,597 liters of cow urine have been bought. Of this, 415 liters have been used to produce organic pesticide Brahmastra.