THE NEW GOBAR ECONOMY

Politics in the name of cow welfare has seen political parties fashion various policies and programmes in states governed by them. Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh took it a step further in July last year by launching a scheme for its citizens to be able to monetise cow dung. The Godhan Nyay Yojana, which intended to provide income support to cattle owners through procurement of dung, is now being pegged by the Bhupesh Baghel government as a source of vermicompost to address the shortage of chemical fertilisers in the state. Plans are also afoot to diversify the cow dung product range by manufacturing items like paint, phenyl and gau kasht (cow-dung log, used in funerals).

The Godhan Nyay Yojana is inspired by the state government’s Narwa-Garuwa-Ghurwa-Baadi project, which aims to boost the rural economy. The centre of activity under the Godhan scheme is the (cattle shelter). The Baghel government plans to build some 10,569 s—roughly one in each panchayat in the state. As on November 30, 7,777 had been