Raipur, 21 September 2021. Success initiatives such as Godhan Nyay Yojana have made Chhattisgarh a model state for the country, in terms of Gau Seva Gau Sanrakshan (Cow service and protection), said Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel in a program organized at his residence office today.
On the occasion, Mr. Baghel transferred a total amount of 5 crore 24 lakhs to the bank accounts of cattle farmers, Gauthan committees and self-help groups, under Godhan Nyay Yojana.
Chief Minister said- “I am glad that the seemingly simple scheme such as Godhan Nyay Yojana is yielding extraordinary results. This scheme is not just about procuring dung and selling manure. This scheme has greatly contributed towards the causes of women empowerment, enterprise development, increasing income of farmers, agriculture land reform, increased productivity, decreasing agricultural input cost, livestock development, prevention of open grazing, and enhancement of crop and milk production. On this occasion, Chief Minister paid Rs. 1 crore 72 lakh to cattle rearers, cow dung vendors, Rs. 2 crore 4 lakh to Gauthan committees and Rs. 1 crore 48 lakh to self-help groups, thus transferring a total of Rs. 5 crore 24 lakh to the bank accounts of beneficiaries.
Chief Minister further said that so far 51.27 lakh quintals of cow dung has been procured in the state and Rs 102.54 crore has been paid against the same. Moreover, 6 lakh 11 thousand 547 quintals of vermi compost and 1 lakh 66 thousand 370 quintals of super compost produced from the dung procured have been already sold. He said that pastures are being developed in all the Gauthans for green fodder supply. So far, fodder plantation work has been completed in 4 thousand 744 Gauthans over a total area of 10 thousand 838 acres.
Agriculture Minister Mr. Ravindra Choubey said that the Gauthans are being constructed in the villages of the state at a rapid pace. He added that beside the production of vermi compost, other allied economic activities should also be encouraged in the gauthans being developed as Rural Industrial Parks.
Industries Minister Mr. Kawasi Lakhma, Advisor to Chief Minister Mr. Pradeep Sharma, Chairman of Chhattisgarh State Mineral Development Corporation Mr. Girish Devangan, Additional Chief Secretary Mr. Subrat Sahu, Agriculture Production Commissioner Mr. Kamalpreet Singh and Special Secretary Dr. S. Bharathidasan were also present on the occasion.
Agriculture Production Commissioner Dr. Kamalpreet Singh informed that the number of approved Gauthans in the state has now gone up to 10 thousand 113. As many as 6 thousand 170 gauthans have already been built and made operational. A total of Rs 57 crore 43 lakh has been distributed to the Self Help Groups and Gauthan Samitis as dividends and payments. Beneficiaries of this scheme include 45 percent women and 79 thousand 435 landless farmers, 48.10 percent of the Other Backward Classes, 40.58 percent of the Scheduled Tribes, 7.82 percent of the Scheduled Castes. This scheme has become a strong medium for economic empowerment of the weaker and the backward sections of the society.
