Raipur: Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel transferred Rs 5 crore 12 lakh to the bank accounts of beneficiaries today, as the 10th installment under Godhan Nyay Yojana. More than one lakh 40 thousand cattle ranchers have been benefitted under the scheme.
Addressing this program via video conferencing from his office in Assembly premise, Chief Minister said that so far nearly Rs 64 crore 20 lakh has been paid to the cattle ranchers under Godhan Nyay Yojana. The scheme has really improved the financial status of the cattle ranchers.
New employment opportunities are being created and farmers are opting for organic farming. Thousands of rural women are working on vermicompost production from cow dung under Godhan Nyay Yojana. The selling rate of vermi compost has been increased from Rs 8 per kg to Rs 10 per kg. With availability ofvermi compost, farmers are opting for organic farming. Mr. Baghel said that the price of cereals and fruits produced from organic farming is nearly one and a half times more than the ordinary. Hence, organic farming is likely to increase the income of farmers. He congratulated all the beneficiaries associated with Godhan scheme. Agriculture and Water Resources Minister Ravindra Choubey and Agriculture Production Commissioner Dr. M. Geeta were present on the occasion.
Agriculture Production Commissioner Dr Geeta informed that nearly seven thousand 824 gauthans have been sanctioned in the state, out of which construction of 4704 gauthans has been completed. Under Godhan Nyay Yojana, 32 lakh 10 thousand quintals of dung has been procured. Nearly 8 thousand 50 quintals of vermicompost (produced from dung collected in gauthans) have been sold. Farmers have donated hay worth Rs 5 crore in gauthans, so that fodder for the cattle in gauthan could be produced. Ajola is being produced as fodder in gauthans. She further told that nearly 78 thousand 47 vermi tanks have been approved for production of vermicompost. So far, construction of 54 thousand 241 vermi tanks has been completed and construction of 16 thousand vermi tanks is in progress.
Dr. Geeta informed that vermi compost samples are being tested in two laboratories of Raipur, one each in Durg, Bilaspur, Sarguja, Bastar and Raigarh. So far 1,006 samples have been examined. She further informed that among the beneficiaries of Godhan Nyaya Yojana, 47.5 percent beneficiaries belong to Other Backward Classes, 44 percent beneficiaries are women and 41 percent beneficiaries belong to Scheduled Tribes and 7.80 percent beneficiaries belong to Scheduled Castes.