Raipur: Chief minister Bhupesh
Baghel on Monday chaired that first meeting of Chhattisgarh Green Council at
his residence office here. Chhattisgarh
Green Council has been
constituted with the objective to give impetus to the regenerative development
in the state. This council will work towards making Chhattisgarh’s economy
green, strong and sustainable. Regenerative Development is a more progressive
concept than Sustainable Development. The concept of Regenerative Development
includes optimal utilization of available resources, quality enhancement of the
resources, and boosting income of localities through livelihood activities
under New Age Green Economy.
At the meeting, CM
emphasized on the branding of Chhattisgarh as a Green State on national and
international platforms, market linkage of organic products, capacity building
of self-help groups through training, development of districts as per their
specific requirements and ensuring participation of local residents in the
income-oriented activities. He added that Chhattisgarh is the first state of
the country where Green Council has been constituted.
In the meeting, vision
and mission of the Green Council to address the environmental issues were
finalized. This initiative of Chhattisgarh Government will include capacity
building of women self-help groups to market the sustainable forest, medicinal,
herbal and other products. Specialist
companies will be invited to Chhattisgarh, and a carbon credit program will be
launched soon in the state.
In his address to the
meeting, Chief Minister said that in last three years, Chhattisgarh Government
has launched many eco-friendly schemes to strengthen the rural economy, such as
Narva, Garua, Ghurva, Bari Yojana, Godhan Nyay Yojna under Suraji Gaon Yojna,
production of vermi compost from cow dung in Gauthans, encouraging the use of
the left over hay as fodder for cattle after harvesting, expansion of forest areas
under Chief Minister’s Tree Plantation Promotion Scheme, boosting the income of
local forest dwellers through minor forest produce procurement and value
addition, which are promoting the cause of environmental protection and
economic empowerment. These schemes are being appreciated across the country
and abroad.
While discussing the
topic of carbon emissions in the meeting, Chief Minister said that in
Chhattisgarh, we are moving towards organic farming with the use of vermi
compost and we have significantly reduced the carbon emissions (pollution) by
not burning stubble and using it as fodder. He added that Chhattisgarh is on
its way to become the second organic state after Sikkim.
Baghel said in the
meeting that services of specialist companies in Chhattisgarh should be taken
for marketing the products being prepared by self-help groups and also for
promoting tourism in the state. He also talked about the capacity building of
self-help groups underway in the state. In the context, Chief Minister said
that with the help of self-help groups, solar panels and herbs can be used to
prepare forest medicines. He praised the self-help groups of Korba for their
commendable work in the field of forest medicines. There is a good market for
herbal medicines internationally.
Chief Minister said
that a nodal officer should be appointed 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 as an organic state.
Chhattisgarh will be the first state to take such a progressive step towards
the economic empowerment of the local people besides addressing the challenges
of climate change.
The meeting was
attended by Forest Minister Mohammad Akbar, Agriculture Minister Ravindra
Choubey, Urban Administration and Development Minister Dr. Shivkumar Dahria
along with senior officials.
