GOBARdhan Initiative

GOBARdhan Initiative

News: The GOBARdhan initiative in India, aimed at converting waste to wealth through biogas and compressed biogas (CBG), has shown promising results and attracted significant investments.
 

Background:
• The Unified Registration Portal for GOBARdhan has received requests for over 1200 biogas plants, including 320 CBG plants in just 60 days since its launch.
• Union Minister for Jal Shakti had launched the portal.
 

What is the GOBARdhan initiative?
• GOBARdhan scheme is being pursued as a national programme priority under Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen-Phase II. GOBARdhan aims to support villages in effectively managing their cattle and biodegradable waste.
• It stands for Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan.
• Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti is the nodal deparment.
• Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation supports every district with technical assistance and financial support of up to Rs. 50 lakh per district to achieve safe management of cattle and biodegradable waste.
 

What are the objectives of GOBARdhan initiative?
• Safely manage cattle and agricultural waste in villages and make the villages clean.
• Convert organic waste to biogas and organic manure for rural use
• Promote environmental sanitation and curb vector-borne diseases in rural areas
• Create rural employment and income generation opportunities by involving entrepreneurs, SHGs, and youth groups in setting up GOBARdhan units.
 

Benefits of GOBARdhan:
• Helps manage the major solid waste in villages.
• Reduces incidence of vector borne diseases and promote public health.
• Promotes employment and income generation opportunities for SHGs/ farmers groups
• Helps generate organic manure, which boosts agriculture and farm productivity.
• Promotes household income and savings as the use of biogas as fuel will cut down the LPG cost