Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the government plans to set up an online platform for trading in cow dung and agricultural waste under its recently announced waste-to-wealth scheme.

Urging people to make use of the Gobar-Dhan (galvanising organic bio agro resources) scheme announced in the Budget, he said it has the potential to create new jobs linked to waste collection, transportation, biogas sales, etc.

The Prime Minister said this during his 41st radio programme Mann ki Baat broadcast on Sunday where he touched upon a range of subjects, including science and technology, women empowerment, public safety, and conversion of waste into wealth.

He also used the occasion to greet people for Holi, the festival of colours, which falls later in the week.

The Prime Minister said India’s cattle population numbering 300 million produce 3 million tonnes of dung every day. This together with agricultural waste and kitchen waste could be used for producing biogas. The Gobar-Dhan scheme, Modi said, would not only keep the villages clean and sanitised, but also help generate additional income for people.

He also stressed upon the importance of preparedness and proactiveness in public safety. Stating that people often take safety warnings lightly, Modi said most mishaps one encounters in his/her lives — barring natural calamities — are consequence of one mistake or the other.

As the monthly broadcast came just ahead of the National Science Day that falls on February 28 he urged scientific community in the country to explore the ways in which the country and various sections of the community can benefit from emerging frontier of artificial intelligence.

“Through self learning, machines today can enhance their intelligence to a smarter level. This technology can be harnessed to better the lives of the underprivileged, the marginalised and the needy,” Modi observed.

Stating that science and technology is value neutral, he said it was entirely up to us how we want it to perform.

Modi also said his government wants to take the country forward from the path of women development to women-led development.

Today’s woman has shown inner fortitude and self-confidence, has made herself self-reliant. Not only has she advanced herself but has carried forward the country and society to newer heights, Modi said.

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