Chhattisgarh’s first Rural Industrial Park established in Kulgaon
11-Jun-2022
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The concept of transforming Chhattisgarh’s Gauthans into Rural Industrial Parks is slowly taking shape in the state. Adhering to Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of Gram Swaraj which aims to strengthen the rural economy by promoting the rural cottage industries, Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel has started this significant initiative to establish small cottage industries in different parts of Chhattisgarh to provide alternative income-generating opportunities for the villagers
The first such rural industrial park of Chhattisgarh has taken shape in Kulgaon of Kanker district, which has been named as Gandhi Gram. The work of developing Gauthan as Rural Industrial Park has been done by the district administration of Kanker along with women’s self-help groups. The necessary infrastructure for establishing small cottage industries has been developed here and production work has also started by connecting the villagers. More than 13 livelihood-related activities are being conducted in this Industrial park. The Forest Department has also started a residential training center for villagers based on the value addition process of minor forest produce. Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel recently inaugurated the first Rural Industrial Park of Chhattisgarh at Kulgaon Gandhi gram during ‘Bhent and Mulaqat’campaign.
The Forest Department had given a loan of Rs 50 lakh to Indira Van Mitan Group Kulgaon from a circular fund for the establishment of Gandhi gram Rural Industrial Park. On the occasion of its launch, the Chief Minister announced to waive off the loan of the group in view of the concept and nature of this rural industrial park and the successful operation of economic activities here.
The Chief Minister Mr. Baghel believes that only by strengthening the economy of the villages, we, as a state can progress economically. The entire focus of the government is on farming and connecting the people of the village with economic production. Efforts are being made to bring a radical social and economic change in the villages by making the residents self-sufficient by providing them with proper training to add value by processing the agricultural produce. Along with agricultural and horticultural produce, new employment opportunities are being created through value addition of minor forest produce as well.In collaboration with Krishi Vigyan Kendra, units for making fish feed, mushroom production, spawn production have been established in Gandhi Gram Kulgaon campus. Apart from this, fisheries, goat rearing, poultry and vermi compost are being produced here. All these works are being done by the people of local self-help groups.
The infrastructure has also been developed for the Rural Industrial Park built in this Gauthan of Gandhi Village. These include interlocking, CC road, dormitory, residential room, kitchen hall, construction of shed for women's self-help group, construction of platform,and training room. An underground irrigation pipeline has also been laid, an ornate garden is being prepared. A residential training center for processing and value addition of minor forest produce has also been started here by the Forest Department. A loan of Rs 50 lakh has also been given to Indira Van Mitan Group. Keeping in view the work of the group, the Chief Minister has also announced to waive this loan.
Poultry farming and egg production are being done in a modern way. Layer farming and egg production is being done by the women's group here. Right now the production is in the initial stage, its consumption is also being done in Anganwadis. Due to this, Sheetla Group has earned an income of Rs 50,000. About 8 quintals of feed is being manufactured daily in the fish feed preparation unit here. The women of the Pooja self-help- group are running this unit. So far, the group has earned an income of 60 thousand from the sale of 18 quintals of food. Ragi flour is being prepared here by Pooja Self Help Group. It is being fed to children through a supplementary nutritional diet.
Mushroom and spawn production:- Mushroom production and spawn production unit has been constructed under Integrated National Horticulture Development Mission, which is being implemented by Lakshmi Self Help Group Kulgaon, 40 kg. An income of Rs 8000 has been obtained by selling mushrooms locally.
Pulses Mill and Spices Industry: The pulse mill and spice industry has been established by the Agriculture Department. Which is being conducted by the members of Jai Saraswati Mahila Samooh. Till now, 80 kg of moong dal, 70 kg of urad have been prepared and sold for Rs. 15 thousand. In the segment of spice industry, turmeric, coriander and chili powder have been prepared and 7500 kg spices have been sold. Similarly, paddy worth Rs 2600 has been harvested in Mini Rice Mill.
Cow Dung procurement- 273 quintals 85 kg of cow dung has been purchased under Godhan Nyay Yojana in Kulgaon. So far 70 bags of vermi compost have been prepared in this Gauthan.
Dona-pattal manufacturing unit- This unit was started in April 2022 with DMF head. It is being operated by 10 women of Jai Budhadev Self Help Group of Kulgaon. The installed capacity of this unit is 9600 pattals per day.
Here Kodo-Kutki worth 30 thousand rupees was also purchased by the women's self-help group. Kodo rice is also being prepared. The group also conducts hotel operations in the market with vermicompost production. The work of extracting rice from Dhenki is also being done by the women of self-help groups in Kulgaon. The quality of rice is preserved in Dhenki rice.
Handloom Textile Training Center - Women are receiving training in the Handloom Textile Training Center set up here. Along with this, goat rearing activities are also being done here. A Chironji Processing Center has also been established at Kulgaon.
Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel intends that in order to make the village prosperous, self-sufficient and self-supporting, it is necessary to provide employment and income opportunities to the people of the village through small cottage industries in the village itself. The villages of Chhattisgarh should become the center of production and activities like trade should be conducted from the cities. Along with the collection of minor forest produce along with agricultural and horticultural crops, the work of value addition should also be done in the village. This will give employment opportunities to the villagers. Seeing the resolve to develop Gauthans as Rural Industrial Parks and the enthusiasm of the villagers, it seems that in the coming times these parks will emerge as major centers of production in the villages.
