Gobar-Dhan Scheme

In an effort to make the villages open defecation free and improving the lives of villagers, the Finance Minister in his budget speech has announced the launch of Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBAR-DHAN). The scheme is envisaged to manage and convert cattle dung and solid waste in farms to compost, bio-gas and  bio-CNG.   

The Finance Minister also announced that 187 projects have been sanctioned under Namami Gange Programme for infrastructure development, reverse surface cleaning, rural sanitation and other interventions at a cost of Rs.16, 713 crore.  47 projects have been completed and remaining projects are at various stages of execution. All 4465 Ganga Grams villages on the bank of river have been declared open defecation free. 

To achieve the vision of an inclusive society, the government has identified 115 aspirational districts taking various indices of development in consideration, aiming at improving the quality of life in these districts by investing in social services like health, education, nutrition, skill upgradation, financial inclusion and infrastructure like irrigation, rural electrification, potable drinking water and access to toilets at an accelerated pace and in a time bound manner.  

These 115 districts are expected to become model of development. The Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources (GOBAR) Dhan scheme is aimed at helping farmers manage and reuse cattle dung. Jaitley said that under the scheme, farmers would be taught solid waste management and how to reuse solid waste as compost, fertilizer, bio-gas, and bio-CNG. PM Modi said that GOBAR Dhan would keep villages clean and increase the income of the farmers.