Develop Gauthans as livelihood centers; Ensure the marketing of products manufactured by self-help groups: #Chhattisgarh CM #BhupeshBaghel

Raipur: Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel has emphasized to develop Gauthans built in villages under Garwa, a major component of the Suraji village scheme of the Chhattisgarh government, as self-employment and livelihood centers of the villages.

He said that rural economy should be improved by conducting various activities related to self-employment in Gauthans. He said that arrangements for marketing of products manufactured and produced by women self-help groups should be ensured.

Chief Minister said that along with planting saplings on a large scale in Gauthans, ponds should also be construct ed in lower parts of Gauthans. Chief Minister said that fisheries, poultry and goat rearing activities should also be started in the areas of ​​Gauthan. He also talked about linking it with income oriented activities for better operations of Gauthan. Agriculture Minister Shri Ravindra Chaubey, Chief Secretary Shri R. P Mandal, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister, Shri Subrat Sahu, Agricultural Production Commissioner Smt. Maninder Kaur Dwivedi, Deputy Secretary to the Chief Minister Smt. Saumya Chaurasia and senior officials were present.

Chief Minister Shri Baghel instructed to compulsorily engage the officers of the Veterinary department in duty to conduct animal care, health protection and breed improvement program in Gauthan in better ways. He also instructed to create necessary infrastructure for the treatment of animals and other facilities for doctors in Gauthans. Chief Minister said that vermicompost, soap, detergent, incense agarbatti, cement poles, vegetable etc. produced by women groups in Gauthan should be supplied to the government departments especially Forest, Education, Tribal Welfare Department as per the requirements . In this regard, Besides issuing necessary instructions to Chief Secretary Shri R.P.Mandal, instructions were also given to Chhattisgarh Dairy Federation to supply the Devbhog products in government departments as per the requirements.

At the meeting, Agriculture Minister Shri Ravindra Choubey while giving detailed information about the current status of the Gauthans and the activities conducted there, informed that income-generating activities are being conducted successfully by the women self-help groups of the village. Rabi acreage has increased by about 12 thousand hectares in the Gauthan villages.

Agriculture Production Commisioner Smt. Maninder Kaur Dwivedi informed that out of 10 thousand 976 gram panchayats of the state, construction of Gauthan has been approved in 5409 gram panchayats, out of which 1929 Gothans have been constructed. Income oriented activities are being conducted by the villagers there. Geo tagging of 3350 Gothans has also been done. A grant of Rs.10 thousand has also been given to the Management Committees for the operation of Gothan. She informed that in 253 Gauthans, a program of rabi seed production in 3072 hectare was taken. In the year 2019-20, 23558 hectares of crop display was also taken. 2254 works have been approved for pasture development. Nurseries are also being developed along with pasture in Gothans. There is also a plan to set up a fodder treatment, Animal Feed manufacturing units in Gauthans. She informed that about 400 tonnes of compost manure is being produced daily in one thousand and five Gothans. Bio gas plants have been set up in 11 Gauthans, while production of organic insecticide medicines has been started in 8 Gauthans. Arrangements for soil testing and treatment is also being done in Gauthans. Market linkage has been provided at some places for selling material produced by women self-help groups. Detailed information was also given in meeting about animal breed improvement program through Gauthans.