- The National Cow Commission has now stepped up efforts to encourage the production of 33 crores of eco-friendly ‘diyas’ (earthen lamps), made from cow dung, during Diwali next month.
- This initiative is mainly focusing on countering Chinese products and boosting the ‘Make in India’ concept.
After promoting the use of cow urine and cow dung-based products such as hand sanitizers and face masks to check the spread of Covid-19, the National Cow Commission has now stepped up efforts to encourage the use of more and more such products during upcoming festivals targeting the production of 33 crores eco-friendly ‘diyas’ (earthen lamps), made from cow dung, during Diwali next month to counter Chinese products.
“The upcoming campaign to use ‘diyas’, made from cow dung, will counter the Chinese made lamps and thus boost the ‘Make in India’ concept of the Prime Minister,” said Vallabhbhai Kathiria, chairman of the commission.
More than 15 states, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, have agreed to be part of the campaign. About 3 lakh ‘diyas’ will be lit in the holy city of Ayodhya, while 1 lakh ‘diyas’ will be used at the river Ganga ghats in Varanasi.
“The manufacturing has started. We are targeting 33 crore days before Diwali,” said Katherine while noting that the Commission, Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog (RKA), will act as a facilitator in helping livestock farmers and other stakeholders to produce not only ‘diyas’ but also many other eco-friendly products.
The chairman himself, while addressing a press conference, displayed several products, made of cow dung/urine, such as hand sanitizer, paperweights, Ganesh and Lakshmi idols, incense sticks, candles, and ‘anti-radiation chips’ which, he claimed, would protect mobile users from harmful effects of radiation.
Source: PTI
