UP Go Sewa Ayog chairman links cow dung innovation to Atmanirbhar Bharat vision

Lucknow: The Centre launched Rural Smart Village Centres (RSVC) nationwide to develop smart and self-reliant villages, with the initiative already rolled out in Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Karnataka.

Existing govt schemes, including the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) and other rural development programmes, are being integrated into the RSVC framework, Dr Sapna Poti, director, strategic alliances division, office of the principal scientific adviser to the govt of India, said on Tuesday.

Poti was speaking at a hybrid meeting organised by the Uttar Pradesh Go Sewa Ayog on the use of cow dung-based technologies to strengthen the rural economy. The session examined ways to manufacture technically refined organic manure, biopesticides and biogas energy from cow dung and discussed opportunities in agriculture, energy generation, natural farming, rural livelihoods and employment through scientific interventions.

Uttar Pradesh Go Sewa Ayog chairman Shyam Bihari Gupta said cow dung should be viewed not only as a traditional resource but as an input linked to rural prosperity, natural farming, organic production and technological innovation aligned with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. He added that such approaches could also support cow conservation while making villages more employment-oriented, environmentally sustainable and economically empowered.

Participants were briefed on “Manthan,” a digital platform designed as an open innovation ecosystem where innovators can present ideas and collaborate on developing technological solutions.

They were also informed about the “AMRIT” platform, described as a national framework through which villages can register local requirements and challenges. Multiple ministries and state govts are integrated with AMRIT to enable coordinated, need-based technological interventions.