Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBARdhan)

Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBARdhan) Scheme

The Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBARdhan) Scheme, initiated in April 2018, is an innovative project aimed at enhancing waste management in rural India. This initiative, launched under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen), seeks to improve cleanliness in villages while simultaneously transforming organic waste, particularly cattle dung, into valuable resources such as energy and compost.

Overview of GOBARdhan

Implemented by the Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation, GOBARdhan is a critical component of the Solid and Liquid Waste Management initiative aimed at fostering cleanliness and sustainability in rural areas. With rural India achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, this scheme plays a vital role in supporting villages in attaining ODF-plus status, a key goal of Phase II of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen).

The GOBARdhan initiative serves as a collaborative platform involving various ministries, including:

• Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)
• Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG)
• Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD)
• Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DACFW)
• Department of Rural Development
• Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS)

DDWS acts as the coordinating body, offering both technical and financial support to States and Union Territories for the effective execution of GOBARdhan projects under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen).

Objectives of the Scheme

• To assist villages in efficiently managing cattle waste, agricultural residues, and other organic materials.
• To empower communities to convert their organic waste, particularly cattle dung, into wealth by generating manure and energy.
• To create employment opportunities in rural regions and increase the income of farmers and local residents through waste-to-wealth initiatives.
• To encourage rural entrepreneurship by engaging entrepreneurs, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and youth groups in the operation and management of biogas plants.
• To advance environmental sanitation and mitigate vector-borne diseases through effective waste disposal in rural settings.

Benefits of GOBARdhan

• Facilitates the management of solid waste in villages, particularly cattle dung and agricultural remnants, while promoting sanitation.
• Significantly lowers the incidence of vector-borne diseases, enhancing public health.
• Boosts household income and savings by reducing reliance on LPG through biogas usage.
• Generates organic manure, thus improving agricultural productivity.
• Creates job opportunities and income sources for SHGs and farmers’ groups.
• Contributes to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, fostering environmental sustainability.
• Helps conserve foreign exchange by decreasing the need for natural gas imports.

Eligibility Criteria

To participate in the GOBARdhan Scheme, the following eligibility criteria must be met:

• Individual Household Model: Households identified by the Gram Panchayats.
• Cluster Model: Groups of households identified by the Gram Panchayats, in collaboration with cooperatives, milk unions, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), SHGs, Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) developed under DAY-NRLM, and private entrepreneurs. A minimum of 3 to 4 cattle is required.
• Community Model: Households recognized by the Gram Panchayats.
• Commercial Model: Entrepreneurs, cooperatives, Gaushalas, and dairies eligible to establish large biogas or Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) plants.

Priority is given to villages with a significant cattle population.

Application Process

The application for the GOBARdhan Scheme must be submitted offline, following these steps:

• Step 1: The Gram Panchayat identifies potential beneficiaries with support from SHGs, FPOs, milk cooperatives, private entrepreneurs, and CBOs established under DAY-NRLM, or agencies empanelled by States/Districts/BDTCs.
• Step 2: A project plan document will be drafted with the assistance of identified agencies or BDTCs. Qualified masons, barefoot technicians, and engineers will be selected for biogas plant construction.
• Step 3: Seek approval for administrative and technical proposals from the relevant authorities, ensuring the operation and maintenance (O&M) plan is included in the project proposal.

Official Source

For more information, please visit myScheme.gov.in.