Diwali 2020 : India to produce 33 crore eco friendly diyas to replace chinese lights

New Delhi : The Rashtriya Kamadhenu Commission is setting a target to produce 33 crore eco-friendly lamps made from cow dung to combat Chinese products during Diwali next month.

Commission chairman Vallabhbhai Kathiria gave this information on Monday. This commission, set up in 2019 for the promotion and conservation of indigenous cattle in the country, has launched a nationwide campaign to encourage the use of cow dung based products during the upcoming festival.

“The campaign to dismiss the China-made diya will promote the Prime Minister’s Swadeshi concept and the Swadeshi movement,” Kathiria said at a press conference here. He said that more than 15 states have agreed to be part of this campaign.

He said that about three lakh lamps will be lit in the holy city of Ayodhya, while one lakh lamps will be lit in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. He said, “Manufacturing work has started. We have set a target of making 33 crore diyas before Diwali.” Currently India produces around 192 million kg of cow dung per day.

He said that there is huge potential for cow dung based products. Aayog said that although it is not directly involved in the production of cow dung based products, it is providing training to self-help groups and entrepreneurs willing to set up businesses.

Apart from diyas, Aayog is promoting other products made from cow dung, cow urine and milk such as anti-radiation chips, paper weight, Ganesh and Lakshmi idols, incense sticks, candles and other things. Kathiria said that this initiative will help cow shelters (Gaushalas), which are currently in financial trouble due to the Covid-19 epidemic. These gaushalas can help in making people self-reliant besides creating job opportunities in rural India.

He said, “There is a need to change the whole attitude and the popular perception about cow based agriculture and cow based industry needs to be rectified immediately. So that there is social and economic rejuvenation of the society, especially the lives of the poor in rural areas can be changed.” He said that a number of webinars are being organized for farmers, gaushala operators, entrepreneurs to be a part of this campaign.