Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel on Monday launched the ‘Gordhan Nyaya Yojana’ in 2,408 rural areas and 377 urban areas during the first phase of the scheme in the state.

Under the scheme, the government will purchase cow dung at Rs 2 per kg and sell the vermicompost at Rs 8 per kg.

In a statement, the Chhattisgarh government said, ” It is the first state in the country to buy cow dung directly from farmers with the launch of ‘Gordhan Nyaya Yojana’.”

Baghel launched the ‘Gordhan Nyaya Yojana’ on the occasion of Harel, a festival of Chhattisgarh associated with love and dedication to nature.

On the occasion, Baghel said, “The state already has a systematic procedure and infrastructure for dupatta collection, paddy procurement, and minor forest produce procurement at the support price. In days to come, cow dung procurement will be done on the same lines, along with marketing of the vermicompost so produced.”

Under this scheme, cow dung will be purchased from agriculture and livestock farmers through which large-scale preparation of vermicompost and other products will be done. This will provide employment and economic benefits to the villagers. Organic farming will get a boost in the state.

Under the scheme, in the first phase, procurement of cow dung will be started in 2,408 Gothans in rural areas and 377 Gothans in urban areas. Cow dung will be purchased in a phased manner in all 11,630-gram panchayats of the state.

“There will be active participation of the youth of the village along with women of self-help groups in conducting this whole process. The government will prepare vermicompost by purchasing cow dung, through which the state will move towards organic farming,” said Baghel.

The vermicompost fertilizer will be sold through cooperative societies. In the state, along with the farmers, the forest, agriculture, horticulture, urban administration departments require a large amount of fertilizer at the time of plantation and horticulture cultivation.

The government will also arrange for the marketing of additional organic manure.

Vermicompost fertilizer will be distributed to farmers as a commodity loan.

The use of organic manure will be promoted which will decrease the dependence on chemical fertilizer. Local self-help groups will also get employment. Soil fertility, availability of non-toxic foods, and level of nutrition will thus be improved.

The state government has launched a scheme for farmers through the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana to provide them a fair price for their crops and to promote crop productivity. Nearly Rs 5,750 crore is being provided to 19 lakh farmers of the state under this scheme.

Under this scheme, Rs 1,500 crore has been given to farmers as the first installment. The second installment will be released on August 20.

YSR Congress Party’s rebel MP K. Raghu Ramakrishna Raju on Monday donated his three months salary for the construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya.

The member of Lok Sabha from Narsapuram constituency in Andhra Pradesh sent a cheque of Rs 3.96 lakh to Ram Janambhoomi Teerth Kshetra.

In a letter to the chairman of Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust, he said he was happy to know that the decades-old dream of construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya was becoming a reality with the laying of the foundation stone by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 5.

“I this regard like the help of a little squirrel in the war against Ravana Lanka by Lord Sri Ram, I am herewith enclosing my 3 months of salary as Member of Parliament,” he wrote.

“Along with the billion Hindus world over, we are also anxiously awaiting for the memorable occasion of laying of the foundation stone by the Prime Minister,” he added.

Raju’s move came amid reports that he is moving closer to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

YSRCP early this month sought disqualification of Raju for his revolt against the party. A delegation of party leaders called on Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to submit a disqualification petition.

They said Raju lost the moral right to continue as a member of Lok Sabha representing the party as he was airing views against the party line and hobnobbing with the leaders of the opposition party. They also complained that Raju used unparliamentary language against the party president and Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.

YSRCP took the action after it found Raju’s reply to the show-cause notice ‘irresponsible’. Instead of responding to the questions posed by the party, he raised new questions in his reply.

Raju has also moved the High Court seeking directions to his party not to take any action against him until the Election Commission disposes of his complaint.

The rebel MP alleged that the notice was served in the name of YSRC instead of Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress despite the fact that the Election Commission forbid them from using YSR as a party name. He said he had complained to the Election Commission for the failure of the party to form a disciplinary committee.