Raipur: ‘Godhan Nyay Yojana’ of Chhattisgarh Government has gained immense popularity in the state. This ambitious scheme has been well-received by rural communities as it offers the purchase of cow dung at a rate of Rs 2 per kg, thereby creating better employment and income opportunities in the villages. This has also given a boost to animal husbandry in rural areas. A new environment has been created for the conservation and development of livestock in the state.
Currently, more than 3.36 lakh rural stock farmers are directly benefiting from the purchase of cow dung in the Gauthans. In the last one year, the number of cattle rearers and rural farmers benefiting from this scheme has increased from 2.11 lakh to more than 3.36 lakh, with an increase of 59 per cent in the number of beneficiaries.
Under the ‘Garuva’ programme of the Suraji Gaon Yojana in the state, the construction of Gauthans in villages for the conservation and preservation of cattle is being rapidly carried out. So far, approval for the construction of Gauthans has been given in 10,690 villages in the state, of which 10,001 Gauthans have been constructed and 551 are under construction. The construction work of 138 Gauthans is yet to be started. The Gauthans thus constructed are being managed by the Gauthan committees, where free-of-cost arrangements for the care, treatment, fodder, and water for cattle are made.
Meanwhile, Godhan Nyaya Yojana was started in the state on July 20, 2020, on the auspicious occasion of the Hareli festival. Under this scheme, till April 15, 2023, over 112.34 lakh quintal cow dung has been purchased in Gauthans, in lieu of which Rs 222.09 crore has been paid to the cow dung sellers. On April 20, Rs 2.50 crore was transferred virtually to cow dung vendors in their accounts.
