Swachh Bharat Mission Launches GOBAR-DHAN

GOBAR-DHAN scheme was launched the Union Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation, Uma Bharti.GOBAR-DHAN stands for Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources (GOBAR) – DHAN.

• The scheme was launched at the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) in Karnal, Haryana.

Aim

• This scheme aims to positively contribute to cleanliness and generate energy from solid waste. It has twin objectives- to make villages clean and generate energy from cattle and other waste.

Salient Features of the scheme

• This scheme was announced by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley while presenting Union Budget 2018.
• Under this scheme, bio-gas plants will be set up at individual or community level and also at the level of Self Help Groups and NGOs like Gaushalas.
• The funds required to setup bio-gas plants will be provided by central and state governments in the ratio of 60:40.
• A target has been set by the Government to setup nearly 700 bio-gas units in different states under the scheme during 2018-19.
• The scheme will create new rural livelihood opportunities and enhance income for farmers and other rural people.
• This scheme will be run by Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin). 
• The Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) comprises two main components for creating clean villages-
• creating open defecation free (ODF) villages
• managing solid and liquid waste in villages
• Under Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), over 3.5 lakh villages, 374 districts and 16 States/UTs across India have already been declared open defecation free (ODF).
• The GOBAR-DHAN scheme is an important element of this ODF-plus strategy. 

Expected Questions

Question no 1:

What does the acronym GOBAR-DHAN stands for?
Answer:  Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources (GOBAR) – DHAN

Question no 2:

GOBAR-DHAN scheme is launched under which Ministry?
Answer: Ministry for Drinking Water and Sanitation

Question no 3:

Who is the current Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation?
Answer: Uma Bharti

Question no 4:

When was Swachh Bharat Mission Launched and by whom?
Answer: 2nd October 2014 by PM Narendra Modi