Team News Riveting
Raipur, May 8
Complacently claiming the success of his government’s ambitious Gauthan project, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said the scheme had generated vast employment and income had boosted the confidence of people.
“The proverb of ‘Aam ke aam, Guthliyo ke bhi daam’ comes true in the state-run Gauthans (cow shed),” Baghel said while interacting with the people in Ramnagar village of Premnagar constituency under his on-going Bhent-Mulaqat campaign. The proverb in English means mango fruit is in itself a good gain and its seed is a bonus.
The Chief Minister visited the Kharsura Gauthan and interacted with the self-help groups associated with the project. They said the project had given them stable work and income.
Asserting that the Gauthans have become a center for self-employment as they are not only manufacturing cow-dung based Vermicompost but also running number of livestock rearing activities like poultry farming, and goat farming, to manufacturing cow-dung-based products like incense sticks, pots, diyas, etc.
The women associated with Kharsura Gauthan said that in the initial days, they were making different types of products including vermicompost from cow dung only, but other opportunities were also explored for additional sources of income. During this, guidance and financial support were also provided at the government level. After this, a pond for fish farming was constructed in the Gauthan complex itself. At the same time, a bari was built for vegetable production where many types of fresh vegetables ranging from bottle-gourd, ladyfinger, onion, cucumber, and watermelon are being produced and sold in the market.
The members presented a basket full of vegetables to the Chief Minister. Baghel urged them to supply the vegetables produced in Gauthan to the nearby ashrams and hostels.
The Chief Minister said that till now women were getting income by making products including vermicompost from cow dung in the state. Now electricity would be generated from cow dung and women would add more pennies to their kitty.
