Rs 419.25 crore paid to the beneficiaries of Godhan Nyay Yojana so far

Nearly 107.75 lakh quintal cow dung was purchased in Gauthans till last month

This year's budget has been designed keeping in view the interests of all sections, including farmers, laborers, and rural masses: Chief Minister

Raipur, TNINS 

Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel on Wednesday virtually released Rs 7.04 crore to cattle rearers, women's groups, and Gauthan committees under the Godhan Nyay Yojana in a programme organized in his office located in the Vidhansabha premises here. This includes payment of Rs 4.25 crore to cattle rearers, farmers, and the landless in the lieu of 2.13 lakh quintal cow dung purchased in the Gauthans from February 16 to February 28. Besides, Rs 1.65 crore was paid to Gauthan committees and Rs 1.14 crore to women groups.

Addressing the programme, Chief Minister said that every month, the 5th to the 15th date is special for the farmers because on this day they receive the amount of the Godhan Nyay Yojana. It is good news that a large number of Gauthans are becoming self-supporting. To encourage self-supporting Gauthans, it has been decided to provide an honorarium to the chairman and members of the Gauthan Management Committee. He also urged to make efforts to make other Gauthans self-supporting as well. He added that it is good news that work has started on generating electricity from cow dung, in addition to making other useful products from cow dung. The plant for generating electricity from cow dung in Domarpal in Bastar has been synchronized with the grid. The rate of electricity produced through this will be fixed at Rs 9 per unit.

It is worth mentioning here that these self-supporting Gauthans are contributing to the purchase of cow dung under the Godhan Nyay Yojana. Over the past few weeks, the share of self-supporting Gauthans in the payment made for the purchase of cow dung accounts up to 60-70 per cent. In the current scenario, more than 50 per cent of the Gauthans have become self-supporting, fulfilling their other activities with their own funds along with the purchase of cow dung and 'go-mutra'. From February 16 to February 28, a total of 2.13 lakh quintals of cow dung were purchased in Gauthans, for which a sum of Rs 4.25 crore is transferred to cow dung sellers, out of which Rs 1.92 crore is paid by the Agriculture Department and Rs 2.33 crore is paid by self-supporting Gauthans. So far, self-supporting Gauthans have made a payment of Rs 45.52 crore for cow dung purchases using their own funds.

It is worth mentioning that under the Godhan Nyay Yojana, a total of Rs 419.25 crores has been paid to beneficiaries by combining the amounts paid so far. In Chhattisgarh, cow dung is being purchased at Rs 2 per kg since July 20, 2020, under the Godhan Nyay Yojana. A total of 107.75 lakh quintals of cow dung has been purchased from Gauthans in the state till February 28, 2023. A payment of Rs 215.50 crores has been made in the lieu of purchase of cow dung from the sellers. So far, payments of Rs 185.77 crores have been made to Gauthan committees and women's self-help groups.

Agriculture Minister Shri Ravindra Choubey also addressed the programme. Food Minister Shri Amarjeet Bhagat, Chief Minister's Advisor Shri Rajesh Tiwari, Additional Chief Secretary Shri Subrat Sahoo, Agriculture Production Commissioner Dr. Kamal Preet Singh, Special Secretary of Agriculture Department Shri Ayaz Tamboli, Director of Agriculture Department Smt. Ranu Sahu, Director of Horticulture Department Smt. Chandan Tripathi were present on the occasion.