Sukhet’s villagers trade waste for wellness, get free LPG refills

What is the news?

The rising price of LPG cylinders was making life difficult for women in rural areas. The instalment of Sukhet model in the village has brought ease to the household. The program was lauded by Prime Minister Modi in his latest episode of ‘Mann ki Baat’.

What is Sukhet’s model?

It is an initiative by Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agriculture University (RPAU) at Pusa.

It allows women to get their LPG cylinders refilled every two months in exchange for cow dung and farmyard waste.

Furthermore, it provides four-fold benefit: ensures a pollution-free environment at home, waste disposal, monetary assistance for LPG cylinders, and availability of organic fertilisers to the local farmers.

How does Sukhet’s model work?

Under Sukhet’s model, two local workers visit households that have cattle to collect dung and farmyard waste and bring it to a vermicomposting yard.

Criteria to avail the benefit: A family has to provide 1200 kgs of cow dung and wet garbage waste every two months to get their LPG gas cylinders refilled for free. The family needs to meet the target of 20 kg of cow dung and garbage waste every day.

What are future plans?

The target is to take this model to 100 households in the villages in the first phase, currently, 44 households are availing the benefit.

RPAU is going to emulate the Sukhet model in seven more places in Bihar- East Champaran, West Champaran, Siwan, Saran, Gopalganj, Vaishali and Samastipur.

Significance of the Sukhet model

Implementing the Sukhet model in various districts of Bihar will also generate employment for the local youth and to make village soil nutrient self-sufficient.

Villagers get good quality vermicompost which is cheaper than the market price.

Suggestions to improve the Sukhet model

The government can treat Sukhet model as a micro-industry. The government can consider providing contract works under MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) scheme. Further, the increased CSR funding by industries on Sukhet model will improve its coverage and performance.

Source: This post is based on the article “Sukhet’s villagers trade waste for wellness, get free LPG refills” published in The Hindu on 7 September 2021.