ARTH GANGA
CONTEXT:
- Recently, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), in partnership with the Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation (HESCO), has launched an initiative titled ‘Ganga Bhog – Gangotri Se Ganga Sagar Tak’.
- The initiative, which was launched as part of the Earth Day celebrations, is yet another project under the ‘Arth Ganga’ concept of the Namami Gange programme.
- The ‘Ganga Bhog’ initiative is centred on the ‘5 Ms’: maa (mother), mandir (temple), mitti (land), women and mota-anaj (millets).
ABOUT ARTH GANGA :
- Arth Ganga is a sustainable economic model conceptualized under Namami Gange Programme to integrate people in the basin with Ganga Rejuvenation.
- PM Modi first introduced the concept during the first National Ganga Council meeting in Kanpur in 2019
- He urged for a shift from Namami Gange, the Union Government’s flagship project to clean the Ganga, to the model of Arth Ganga.
- The latter focuses on the sustainable development of the Ganga and its surrounding areas, by focusing on economic activities related to the river.
- At its core, the Arth Ganga model seeks to use economics to bridge people with the river.
- Arth ganga strives to contribute at least 3% of the GDP from the Ganga Basin itself.
- The Arth Ganga project’s interventions are in accordance with India’s commitments towards the UN sustainable development goals.
FEATURES OF ARTH GANGA :
- Under Arth Ganga, the government is working on six verticals.
- The first is Zero Budget Natural Farming, which involves chemical-free farming on 10 km on either side of the river, and the promotion of cow dung as fertiliser through the GOBARdhan scheme.
- The Monetization and Reuse of Sludge & Wastewater is the second, which seeks to reuse treated water for irrigation, industries and revenue generation for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
- Arth Ganga will also involve Livelihood Generation Opportunities, by creating haats where people can sell local products, medicinal plants and ayurveda.
- The fourth is to increase public participation by increasing synergies between the stakeholders involved with the river.
- The model also wants to promote the cultural heritage and tourism of Ganga and its surroundings, through boat tourism, adventure sports and by conducting yoga activities.
- The model seeks to promote institutional building by empowering local administration for improved water governance.
MORE ABOUT THE MODEL :
- JALAJ is a unique initiative developed to generate livelihood opportunities for local communities through shops, awareness boats (Jalaj Safari), homestays etc. JALAJ has been launched at 40 locations so far.
- Arth Ganga is an initiative that strives to boost economy and livelihood in the Ganga Basin.
SYLLABUS: PRELIMS, CURRENT AFFAIRS
