Chhattisgarh State PCS

• 18 Aug 2021

Gamharia Village Became Plastic and Garbage Free

Why in News

• On August 17, 2021, Gamharia village in Chhattisgarh's Jashpur district became plastic and garbage-free. Earlier, it was declared an Open Defecation Free (ODF) village.

Key Points

• This has been made possible through 'Safai Mitra', the women of Surajpur Self-Help Group in Gamharia who go door-to-door to collect garbage. Villagers now call them respectfully as 'Swachchta Didi'.
• The group has made garbage disposal and waste management an additional source of earning. In the last one year, they earned Rs 63,000.
• Gamharia Sarpanch William Kujur said the Segregation Shed (Solid and Liquid Waste Management Center) was built in the village. Funds were provided from Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural).
• Solid waste such as polythene, packing wrappers of food items, plastic items, iron scrap and glass are sold after segregation, said Sunita Kujur, secretary of the SHG.
• She said 12 women have been working for the group since July 2020. The group collects Rs 10 a month from each household and Rs 20 each from shopkeepers for the garbage collection.

Aromatic Kondanar Campaign

Why in News

• Recently, the Aromatic Kondanar campaign, as part of developing mango orchards (Amrai), has begun with the planting of 1,000 Alphonso species at Rajagaon in Chhattisgarh's Kondagaon district.

Key Points

• Kondagaon MLA Mohan Markam, District Collector Pushpendra Kumar and other representatives planted 1000 saplings of Lemongrass, Palmarosa, Patchouli and Alphonso in an area of 25 acres in Rajagaon. Along with this, Nilgiri and bamboo saplings were also planted by other public representatives.
• It is worth mentioning that Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had launched the Aromatic Kondanar (Fragrant Kondanar) campaign on June 20, 2021, with the aim of making the district an aroma hub and promote aromatic crop cultivation for additional earning to the farmers in tribal areas.
• Under this campaign will be implemented in 2,000 acres of forest, agriculture and private lands in the district will grow aromatic crops. Along with this, aromatic substances will be manufactured by setting up a plant in the district at a cost of 20 crores.