Raipur, January 3, 2022. Under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, the first meeting of the Chhattisgarh Green Council, constituted to give impetus to the regenerative development in the state, was held at his residence here today. Efforts will be made to further strengthen the green and sustainable economy in the state through the Green Council. Regenerative Development is a more progressive concept than Sustainable Development which works to increase the income of local people from Livelihood under New Age Green Economy with proper utilization of available resources as well as enhancing the quality of resources. is done. In the meeting, the Chief Minister talked about branding of Chhattisgarh as a green state, market linkage of organic products, capacity building of self-help groups through training, on national and international forum. He stressed the need to promote economic oriented activities by developing according to the characteristics of the districts and involving the local residents. He said that Chhattisgarh is probably the first state in the country where Green Council has been constituted.
The Council’s vision and main activities to address the environmental issue were finalized in the meeting of the Green Council. The government’s initiatives will include capacity building of women self-help groups to market sustainable forest, medicinal, herbal and other products, inviting specialist companies to Chhattisgarh, and launching a carbon credit program within the state.
The Chief Minister said in the meeting that during the last three years in Chhattisgarh to strengthen the rural economy, many eco-friendly schemes like Narva, Garuva, Ghurva, Bari Yojna, Godhan Nyay Yojna under Suraji Gaon Yojna, prepared vermi compost from cow dung in Gauthans. To encourage the use of the left over farmland as fodder for cattle after harvesting, expansion in forest areas under the Chief Minister’s Tree Plantation Promotion Scheme, as well as increase in the income of local forest dwellers, minor forest produce Value additions have been started in the state, which are giving impetus to environmental protection and economic empowerment. These schemes are being appreciated in the country and abroad.
Regarding carbon emissions in the meeting, the Chief Minister said that in Chhattisgarh, we are moving towards organic farming with the use of vermicompost. By not burning stubble and using it as fodder, they are reducing carbon emissions (pollution). He said that Chhattisgarh can prove to be the second organic state after Sikkim in the coming time. Mr. Baghel said in the meeting that the products which are being prepared by self-help groups, Efforts should be made to take services of specialist companies in Chhattisgarh for their marketing and promotion of tourism in the state. He said that many self-help groups are doing very good work. New skills can be taught by training them. In this perspective, he said that through self-help groups, solar panels and herbal medicines can be prepared. Self-help groups are doing good work in the field of forest medicines in Korba. There is a good market for herbal medicines internationally. The Chief Minister said that a nodal officer should be posted in every district to promote regenerative development. After identifying the specialties of the districts, development works should be done there with the help of experts. He also directed to make efforts towards branding of Chhattisgarh. Economic empowerment of local people along with tackling the challenges of climate change
The meeting was attended by Forest Minister Mr. Mohammad Akbar, Agriculture Minister Mr. Ravindra Choubey, Urban Administration and Development Minister Dr. Shiv Kumar Dahria, Chief Minister’s Advisor Mr. Pradeep Sharma, Chief Secretary Mr. Amitabh Jain, Additional Chief Secretary Mr. Subrata Sahu, Principal Secretary Forest and Industries. Shri Manoj Pingua, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Shri Rakesh Chaturvedi, Agriculture Production Commissioner Dr. Kamalpreet Singh, Managing Director State Minor Forest Produce Association Shri Sanjay Shukla, Secretary Forest Shri Premkumar, members of Swaniti Initiative team and concerned officers were present.
Raipur : Chhattisgarh will become an organic state : Bhupesh Baghel
