Chhattisgarh is the first state in the country to collect cow dung and to transform the cow dung procurement system into a profit arrangement, CM Bhupesh Baghel said. Currently, the cow dung procured is being used for the production of vermicompost. Baghel said, “more efforts should be made to make it more profitable. Besides improving the economic activities, the chances of producing electricity from cow dung should also be studied and gauthans should be made self-dependent in terms of fodder production. He instructed the District Collectors to analyze the need for maintenance, repair and construction works of Gauthans and to update needs at the earliest.

Addressing a program arranged at his residence office on Wednesday, CM Baghel transferred Rs 5 crore 33 lakh into the bank accounts of the aforementioned beneficiaries of Godhan Nyay Yojana at the program. Rs 100 crore 82 lakh has been paid to the cattle owners and collectors against the dung procurement so far.

He also paid Rs 1 crore 41 lakh as dividend to the self-help groups and Rs 2 crore 18 lakh to Gauthan Samitis. A total amount of Rs 21 crore 42 lakh has been paid to Self-Help Groups as dividend and Rs 32 crore 94 lakh to Gauthan Samitis so far. A Sum of Rs 54 crore 36 lakh has been paid to self-help groups and Gauthan committees. Under the Godhan Nyay Yojana, more than 1 lakh 74 thousand cattle farmers and dung vendors have been benefited. 50 lakh quintals of cow dung have been procured under this scheme. Biogas is being produced in gauthans and being supplied to nearby households in certain places.