Assam Finance Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah, while presenting the State Budget 2026-27, announced a series of initiatives to strengthen the cooperative sector, including a Rs 172 crore allocation for the Cooperation Department. The measures aim to expand the cooperative network, improve ease of doing business and promote inclusive rural development.
The Minister informed the Assembly that the Assam Cooperative Societies Act, 2007 has been amended to reduce the registration period for cooperative societies from 60 days to 30 days, making it easier to establish new cooperatives.
Highlighting the progress under the One Village-One Cooperative initiative, Mallabaruah said the state has already established 467 Multipurpose Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), 597 Dairy Cooperative Societies and 82 Fishery Cooperative Societies, significantly widening the reach of the cooperative movement across Assam.
In another key announcement, he said the government will promote the formation of Tea Labourers’ and Consumers’ Cooperative Societies in tea gardens across the state to bring tea workers into the cooperative fold and improve their economic participation.
The proposed Rs 172 crore allocation is expected to accelerate cooperative-led rural development and strengthen livelihoods across Assam.
