Over 12 lakh farmers in rural Chhattisgarh have earned ₹17,000 crore in the first year of the Godhan Nyay Yojana—just by selling cow dung and urine. Data released by the state’s agriculture department on March 24, 2026, shows that Wakand Katara, a tribal farmer from Billaspur, earned ₹36,000 in two months from selling 18,000 kg of cow dung at ₹2/kg and 450 litres of cow urine at ₹5/litre.
How the Scheme Started: CM Bhupesh Baghel’s ₹18.7 Crore Vision
Launched on July 20, 2020, by then CM Bhupesh Baghel, the Godhan Nyay Yojana was initially budgeted at ₹135 crore. Today, it has ballooned to a ₹1,000 crore annual fund, with ₹17,000 crore disbursed till March 25, 2026. The scheme now covers 9,845 gauthans (cow shelters) across 28 districts, up from just 1,300 in 2020.
₹2/kg and ₹5/litre: Pricing Fixed by MoU with Cattle Owners
Under the scheme, Chhattisgarh officials have signed MoUs with 1.8 lakh cattle-owning households. Kamlesh Patel, head of the state’s Godhan Nyay implementation cell, told reporters on March 20, 2026, “We don’t accept less than ₹2/kg for dung or ₹5/litre for urine—our rates are non-negotiable.”
Critical fact: Farmers like Rajesh Nayak from Dhamtari district report saving up to ₹45,000 annually on organic fertiliser by using cow dung compost instead of urea, which costs ₹180/kg.
From Waste to Wealth: Gauthan Clusters Creating Jobs
In January 2026, the Raipur-based Danteshwari Gauthan opened a new unit producing 5,000 kg of bio-compost daily, employing 120 rural workers. Another cluster in Bilaspur completed 18 vermicomposting units in January 2026, generating 80 tonnes of fertilizer every month. “Each unit pays 15 female workers ₹8,000/month,” said Gauthan in-charge Rekha Sahu.
Who Can Enroll: Eligibility Rules Until March 31, 2026
Any cattle owner in Chhattisgarh can register online through Samagra Portal. Required documents are a land receipt, Aadhaar, and cattle health certificate. Payments are made directly every Monday to bank accounts linked with Aadhaar. By March 25, 2026, 98% of payments were credited within 48 hours.
But one exception: if cattle are found sick or underweight, the payment is delayed by two weeks pending re-inspection by the district veterinary officer.
Saving ₹45,000 per Family: The Hidden Benefit of Cow Dung
Sunita Mishra, a paddy farmer from Korba, spent ₹67,500 last year on fertilisers for her two-acre plot. After switching to cow dung compost, her urea bill dropped to zero, saving ₹32,600. Her bio-gas unit also gave her an extra ₹12,000 by selling pellets for ₹5.50 per kg in local markets. “Now my input cost is just ₹2,300,” she said.
Industry analysts calculate that each farmer participating in the scheme, on average, saves ₹45,000 per annum on fertilisers and fuel.
Criticisms and Delays: 2% Payments Pending
To mitigate complaints of late payments, Chief Secretary Shivandant Mishra announced on March 15, 2026, that pending payments—about 2% or ₹3.4 crore—will be cleared by April 5. Some farmers in remote Bastar districts report delays in bio-compost pickup due to vehicle shortages.
Yet, the opposition BJP’s state president Vishnu Deo Sai called the scheme “a cash cow for vote-bank politics,” while the Congress government defended it as a “rural livelihood lifeline.”
How to Apply: Step-by-Step (Print This)
- Go to Chhattisgarh Government portal.
- Click Godhan Nyay Yojana under Agriculture.
- Upload aadhaar, land receipt, and cattle health certificate.
- Submit gauthan nearest to your village.
- Receive OTP on phone and confirm.
