Context

Encouraged by the response to Gaumaya Ganesha Campaign which encouraged usage of eco-friendly material in manufacture of idols for the Ganesha Festival, Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog (RKA) has started a nation- wide campaign to celebrate “Kamdhenu Deepawali Abhiyan” this year on the occasion of Deepawali festival.

About

• Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog (RKA) has been constituted by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for the conservation, protection and development of cows and their progeny and for giving direction to the cattle development programmes. 
• RKA is high powered permanent body to formulate policy and to provide direction to the implementation of schemes related to cattle so as to give more emphasis on livelihood generation.                             

India’s livestock sector

• Livestock economy sustains nearly 73 million households in rural areas.
• Even though, the country is largest producer of milk, the average milk yield in India is only 50% of the world average.
• The low productivity is largely due to deterioration in genetic stock, poor nutrition and unscientific management.
• The trend needs to be reversed and popular perception about cow and cow based agriculture and cow based industry need to be corrected immediately for social and economic rejuvenation of society particularly poor in rural areas.

Significance of the initiative

• RKA aims reaching 11 crore families to ignite 33 crore Diyas made of cow-dung during this year’s Deepawali festival.
• Apart from generating business opportunities to thousands of cow-based entrepreneurs / farmers/ women entrepreneurs, the use of cow-dung products will lead to cleaner and healthier environment.
• It will help in making Gaushalas ‘Atma Nirbhar’ too.
• By providing an environment friendly alternative to Chinese made Diyas, the campaign will boost up Make in India vision and also promote ‘Swadeshi’ movement while reducing environmental damage.