Raipur, 30 June 2021. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has given instructions to construct sheds for the operation of multi-utility centers in Gauthans built in villages. He has said that this will help women self-help groups and villagers to conduct employment business activities. In the first phase, the Chief Minister has asked for construction of work sheds in 3 thousand Gauthans of the state with the amount of DMF. He said that necessary funds would also be made available to the districts for this purpose.
Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel was reviewing the status of income-oriented activities conducted by women self-help groups in Gauthans at his residence office today. Agriculture and Water Resources Minister Shri Ravindra Choubey, Revenue Minister Shri Jaisingh Agarwal, Chief Secretary Shri Amitabh Jain, Additional Chief Secretary Shri Subrata Sahu, Principal Secretary Forest Shri Manoj Pingua, Additional Chief Secretary Panchayat and Rural Development Smt. Renu Ji Pillay, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Shri Rakesh Chaturvedi, Principal Secretary Forest Shri Manoj Pingua, Secretary Panchayat and Rural Development Shri Prasanna R, Secretary Water Resources Shri Avinash Champawat, Secretary to Chief Minister Shri Siddharth Komal Singh Pardeshi and senior departmental officers were present.
The Chief Minister said that four income-oriented activities should be identified and encouraged in each development block. These income-oriented activities should be selected keeping in mind the abundantly produced agricultural and minor forest produce at the local level. The Chief Minister clearly said in the meeting that processing of minor forest produce should be encouraged in the multiutility centers in Gauthans of Vananchal. He said that in those Gauthans of Vananchal where tamarind production is more, the activity of making candy and other products from tamarind should be encouraged. Similarly, it would be appropriate to promote its production by training people to prepare tree guards, bamboo tokens and other products in bamboo growing areas. The Chief Minister said that people would get employment and their income would increase by preparing mangoes and other products in the Gauthans of the state where mango production is high.
The Chief Minister further said that in the areas where cultivation of Kodo, Kutki, fragrant paddy, tur, oilseeds, linseed etc. is prominently, operation of its milling, processing and packaging units in Gauthans would be beneficial. In the meeting, it was also discussed to make arrangements for marketing of the material produced in Gauthans through C-Mart. The Chief Minister also directed to mark the suitable building for the operation of C-Mart and ensure necessary arrangements.
The Chief Minister also gave detailed instructions to the officers to ensure availability of green fodder in Gauthans. He said that the areas where farmers cultivate paddy during summer should be encouraged to grow maize. This will ensure availability of green fodder for the animals coming to the Gauthans. Instructions were also given to develop pastures in all the Gauthans. The Chief Minister said that an action plan should be prepared to make available the remaining residue after plucking of maize from the pastures of Gauthans, grass from forest land and maize cultivators as fodder for cattle. He said that care should also be taken that women groups producing green fodder in Gauthans should get adequate income.
In the meeting, Agriculture Minister Shri Ravindra Choubey informed that so far 10,057 Gauthans have been approved in the state, out of which 5820 Gauthans are active and women self-help groups and villagers are conducting income-oriented activities there. About 60 thousand acres of government land has been secured by the construction of Gauthans in the villages. About 85 thousand women have become financially independent by joining the employment activities in Gauthans. Agriculture Production Commissioner informed that 1750 sheds have been constructed in Gauthans for the rest of the animals. A separate room has been made for the shepherds in 532 Gauthans. Biogas is being produced in 110 Gauthans. 2000 fodder cutting machines have been installed for the arrangement of hutti fodder for the animals. 36 thousand acres of land is reserved for pasture in 3219 Gauthans. In which pasture development is being done through MNREGA.
