‘Gobar-dhan’ stands true to its name, farmers benefitting from 2018 cow dung scheme

New Delhi: The Gobar-dhan initiative launched by Narendra Modi government in 2018 is turning out to be win-win proposal for both the mammoth bovine population in the country as well as the lakhs of farmers engaged in their well-being. The scheme has significantly raised the income of those engaged in livestock farming while also added to the electricity supply.

Ever since taking charge, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been speaking about doubling of farmers’ income while bringing about key change in their lifestyle. Now, as the nation is celebrating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav i.e. 75 years of India’s Independence, the Cow-dung contributing to farmers income couldn’t have come at a better time.

The Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBAR-DHAN) scheme was launched in 2018, as an extension of Swachch Bharat Campaign to promote cleanliness in village, add a continuous source of income for villages and also promote electricity generation from cattle waste.

Under the Gobar-Dhan, the biodegradable remains of cows & cattles are converted into biogas and used for powering villages. Under the scheme, small entrepreneurs are also being encouraged to set up compressed biogas (CBG) plants in villages & rural belts. It may be noted that cow dungs have, for long, been used in the villages for cooking food.

A couple of states have taken lead in implementing the project and are encouraging farmers & villagers to become an active ‘participant in the movement’. In Madhya Pradesh’s Indore, farmers are being handsomely rewarded for handing out their mounts of cow dung & cattle waste.

This will be used in a biogas pilot project to power city’s needs. Once successfully operational, this could turn to be a gamechanger move. Cow dung & cattle waste will be used in plant to produce methane gas & the organic residue could be later used as fertiliser.

Can Cow urine cure ailments, research underway

Apart from cow dung and bovine waste, cow urine is also being researched by a team of Ayurvedic doctors to identify & ascertain its medicinal properties. Research is being done to develop utility products like soaps & shampoos from cow urine.

However, scientists are opposed to the idea and claim that it’s a ‘backward & regressive move’.