Cow Dung has become a major source of income for families and is emerging as a tool for providing employment, courtesy Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel government's new scheme 'Godhan Nyaya Yojana'.

Godhan Nyaya Yojana, launched on 20th July 2020, on the auspicious occasion of Hareli, aims to promote organic farming and create new employment opportunities at rural as well asurban levels. Cow Dung is being purchased from the villagers and cow dung collectors, presently from 5454 Gauthans at the cost of 2 rupees per kg.

To refuel the engine of rural development in the state, Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel made an online payment of Rs Rs 8.97 crore , for the cow dung purchased from 77 thousand 592 villagers and cow herders in Gauthans, from October 20th to November 5. Payment of Rs 47.38 crore has been made to the dung vendors of the state so far within the scheme.

3677 Gauthans of the state are engaged in the selling of cow dung. So far, more than 23 lakh quintals of cow dung have been purchased.

Vermicompost, called 'Gaudhan Vermi Compost'. is being prepared by the self-help groups from the purchased cow dung and are being sold at the rate of Rs 8 per kg, under the scheme. To promote the production of product, ditches are being rapidly constructed in Gauthans. More than 44,000 ditches have already been built, while 16,000 ditches are under construction. More than 8 thousand quintal vermicompost manure has been produced in the Gauthans till now.

Since the initiation of the scheme, many beneficiaries have registered themselves in the district with 1,84,899 registered and 88,810 benefited cattlemen in the state currently. Payments are being made directly in the account of the beneficiaries. With Diwali around the corner, villagers have received their gifts in the form of payment.

One such inspiring story is of Tirath Sahu: a landless mason who worked recklessly day and night to make the ends meet with whatever little they get. He soon realized that the mason's job is hardly catering to his family's basic needs, and decided to avail an additional income with the state Government's Godhan Nyay Yojana. To his astonishment, the scheme bore fruitful results for him and his income doubled instantly.

His wife Keja Bai registered under the Godhan Nyay Yojan after being forced off her job of a school cook amid the Covid-19 crisis. His family collects and sells the cow dung available in the house and neighbourhood,or to his committee under the scheme.

His family is living happily now, and their purchasing power and living standards have increased after availing the scheme. Tirath bought three grams of gold leaf for his wife's Keja bai's Mangalasutra and clothes for his kids as a gift. Since the commencement of the scheme, the family has managed to earn a net income of Rs 22,150 to date.

Tirath's inspiring story paves the way for two things. First, with determination and faith, one can touch the highest peaks and second, that the Godhan Nyay Yojana, which includes income generation from something as basic as cow dung, describes the futuristic vision of the Bhupesh Baghel-led state government, which is heading towards fast track Development with its grounded schemes.

"The government's Godhan Nyaya Yojana has provided typical Chhattisgarhi citizen like me and many others with a golden opportunity to seek benefit with the traditional cow dung related work," said Tirath. The benefit availed by beneficiaries like Keja Bai and her family is the hallmark of the successful implementation of the Godhan Nyaya Yojana.