Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday transferred `4.94 crores into the bank accounts of 154,423 people under Godhan Nyaya Yojana and announced Gauthans will be developed as Rural Industrial Parks.

With this 14th instalment, the government has paid a total of `80.42 crores to those who sold cow dung. The bank transfer followed a Cabinet meeting.

Baghel said that through various activities like mushroom production, poultry farming, fisheries, goat rearing, rice mill, kodo-kutki and lac processing in Gauthans, thousands have got employment.

To connect more women and villagers with employment-oriented activities under Godhan Nyay Yojana, the government will develop Gauthans as Rural Industrial Parks, he said.

The Chief Minister said nearly 6 lakh quintals of vermi-compost have been produced by women self-help groups in Gauthans. Vermi compost production will be done on a larger scale in the days to come.

Soon, vermi-compost production will reach 12 lakh quintals.

Baghel said that women self-help groups should be linked to minor forest      produce processing activities in Gauthans.

Agriculture Minister Ravindra Choubey said that multi-utility centres and CG Marts should be developed in Gauthans in all the        districts to facilitate the sale of manufactured goods.

Minor forest produce processing will also be included in Gauthans, he said.

Agriculture Production Commissioner Dr. M. Geeta said women self-help groups have earned `10 crores from various income-oriented activities being conducted in the gauthans.

She added that the   number of self-supporting Gauthans has risen from 226 to 251.