Uttarakhand has approved its State Cooperative Policy 2026, setting a 10-year roadmap to transform cooperatives into engines of rural growth, entrepreneurship and employment.
The policy, cleared by the state Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday, aligns with the National Cooperative Policy 2025 while addressing Uttarakhand’s unique mountain economy, small landholdings, migration and difficult terrain.
A key focus is to transform PACS into multipurpose rural economic hubs, linking agriculture, dairy, horticulture, fisheries, storage, cold chains, insurance, digital banking and other rural services.
The policy also promotes women- and youth-led cooperatives and opens new avenues in tourism, homestays, eco-tourism, AYUSH, renewable energy, organic farming, medicinal plants, handicrafts, drones and AI.
A “Sahkar Taxi” initiative will promote member-owned transport cooperatives in remote areas, while the Vibrant Villages Programme will be linked with cooperatives to create local employment and enterprises.
The roadmap will be implemented in three phases from 2026 to 2036, with the state targeting a digitally enabled, economically viable and diversified cooperative ecosystem, while creating local jobs and helping curb migration.
