n'Gauthans’ have always been a part of Chhattisgarh's traditions and will now get a modern makeover, creating jobs and extra income to rural masses, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said on Friday.
Gauthan and the about to start 'Godhan Nyay Yojana' are villagers’ very own schemes, the Chief Minister told Collectors via video conferencing from his residence, states an official statement. The Yojana will start on July 20 to mark the ‘Hareli’ festival.
The scheme involves collection of cow dung across the state and transforming it to vermi-compost which will be sold to farmers.
Baghel said that infrastructure is already in place to collect cow dung, the way minor forest produce is gathered and paddy is procured on support price. In the same lines, procurement of cow dung and marketing of vermi-compost will be done, making it profitable.
He said the District Collectors have been entrusted with the entire responsibility of executing and monitoring the Godhan Nyay Yojana.
Baghel said the scheme is being talked about across the country while economists and social organizations will monitor its outcome.
He told the Collectors to constitute ‘Gauthan Samitis’.
He added that in the first phase, procurement will start in 2,408 cowsheds in rural areas and in 377 in urban areas. In a phased manner 11,630 cowsheds will be built covering 20,000 villages.
Farmers will be the biggest consumers of the vermi-compost produced from cow dung. Other departments will also procure it.
The Chief Minister said research work should be carried out at Dau Vasudev Chandrakar Kamdhenu University in Durg, and studies on the subject of organic manure, preparation of medicines from cow urine and organic pesticides should be conducted.