Lok Sabha Question No. 2452 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-03
Subject: Arth Ganga Project
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Hema Malini

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2452

## ANSWERED ON 03.08.2023

## ARTH GANGA PROJECT

## †2452. SHRIMATI HEMA MALINI

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  technology  based  capacity  building  programme  has  been  launched  for  leveraging community  and  local  resources  under  the  Arth  Ganga  project  aimed  at  empowering  the  local communities  of  the  Ganga  basin  by  working  towards  their  economic  upliftment  through  ecological perception and if so, the details thereof; and

(b) the details of progress and achievements made so far in the said direction?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI ( SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU )

(a) Arth Ganga refers to the self-sustainable economic model based on the symbiotic relationship between nature and society, by primarily strengthening people-river connect and adopting an ecologically conscious sustainable development framework is based on the concept given by the Hon'ble PM in the 1st National Ganga Council meeting in 2019. It comprises six  pillars  -  zero budget  natural  farming,  monetization  and reuse of sludge and treated wastewater, promotion of livelihood generation opportunities, increased public participation, revival of cultural heritage and tourism and institutional capacity building.

Promoting  Livelihood  generation  opportunities  and  public  participation  are  two  of  the  important interventions under Arth Ganga which involves capacity building through various training, workshops and projects.

NMCG  has  sanctioned  a  'Capacity  Building  Programme  for  Leveraging  Community  and  Local Resources  Based  on  Technology'  to  Himalayan  Environmental  Studies  and  Conservation  Organisation (HESCO), Dehradun in September 2022 for a period of 3 Years.

This  Program  focuses  on  science  and  technology-based  interventions  for  developing  and  harnessing local resources in the economy. The program aims to address technology gaps in resource development and create innovations and interventions for the local ecosystem, with a strong emphasis on the local population's involvement and benefit.

This  program  promotes  sustainable  agriculture  and  horticulture,  supports  ecotourism,  and  focus  on water  conservation  by  integrating  science  and  technology.  It  also  focuses  on  skill  building  of  the  local community for livelihood generation and support.  Another project, 'Jalaj- Connecting River and People to Realize  Arth  Ganga'  sanctioned  to  Wildlife  Institute  of  India,  Dehradun  for  promotion  of  skill-based capacity building programmes.

- (b) The progress and achievements made so far are as under:
- i. Have  organized series  of  Natural  Farming  (NF)  training  workshops  at  different  locations  in  the Ganga  basin  with  the  support  of  States'/Districts'  Agricultural  Departments,  District  Ganga Committees, SPMG and trainers from National Centre for Organic and Natural Farming (NCONF);
- ii. MoU with Sahakar Bharati for setting up "Sahakar Ganga Grams was signed on 16th August, 2022. Sahakar Bharati has formed 314 block level cooperative societies (FPOs) for capacity building and marketing  of  natural  farming  products  out  of  which  10  such  societies  have  been  registered  in Uttarakhand;
- iii. Workshops are being organized for the promotion of Millet Farming in coordination with WII Dehradun
- iv. Meetings  were  organized  in  association  with  HESCO  and  other  NGOs  for  promotion  of   millet (Mota-anaj) based products, produced locally (from local Mati) by self help women (Mahila) groups  in  the  temples  (Mandirs)  on  the  banks  of  River  Ganga  (Ma  Ganga)  as  Prasad (bhog)  under  the  5  Ma-  concept  of  an initiative  titled  'Ganga  Bhog -  Gangotri  Se  Ganga  Sagar Tak'  to promote livelihood generation among locals.
- v. Promoting the concept of Ghat pe Haat for marketing of local produce.
- vi. An  Arth  Ganga  Centre  has  been  created  in  Shuklapur  village  of  Dehradun  district  for  training activities. The Center has been utilizing both digital and physical tools to provide comprehensive training to the community. A total of 10 hands-on training and capacity-building workshops have been  organized.  So  far,  a  total  of  1215  community  members  have  been  trained  in  various disciplines including advanced agriculture techniques, protective cultivation techniques, composting techniques, recharging of springs/streams/rivers, river rejuvenation, utilization of local resources, value addition in agricultural and horticultural produce, crafts, nursery techniques, and more;
- vii. At  Uttarkashi,  a  low-cost  mushroom  cultivation  technique  has  been  implemented,  where  a mushroom hut has been created in the field. Additionally, a spawn technique training program was conducted to enhance their skills;
- viii. A herbal gulal processing technique, utilizing local resources, has been introduced in Uttarakhand. Five groups from the region have been actively involved in implementing these techniques.
- ix. The following training programs have also been organized :
-  Value  addition  in  agri-horticultural  produce  covering  about  200  women  in  Prayagraj,  Begusarai and Sahibganj;
-  Tomato sauce making in Pratapgarh;
-  Incense stick making from waste flowers in Sahibganj, Jharkhand and Prayagraj covering about 75 women;
-  Dhoopbatti making from waste flowers in Yamunanagar, Haryana;
-  Awareness and Aarti training Workshops organized in Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh for promotion of Ganga Aarti at Ghats;