Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah informed Rajya Sabha that Karnataka’s cooperative ecosystem continues to expand rapidly, backed by substantial financial support and wide-ranging reforms undertaken by the Ministry of Cooperation.
As per the National Cooperative Database, Karnataka hosts 46,798 cooperative societies with 2.38 crore members, covering diverse sectors across the State. Shah noted that the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) has cumulatively disbursed Rs 4,67,455.66 crore nationwide, of which Rs 4,164.95 crore has been extended to Karnataka.
Funds released under the PACS and ARDB computerization projects have further strengthened the State’s cooperative infrastructure.
Highlighting key initiatives since the Ministry’s formation in July 2021, Shah said that the Government is pushing a series of reforms to realise the vision of “Sahakar se Samriddhi.” Model Bye-laws now empower PACS to undertake more than 25 business activities, including operating PM-Kisan Samridhi Kendras, Janaushadhi outlets and CSCs.
He also underlined the progress of White Revolution 2.0, aimed at raising dairy cooperative procurement by 50% in five years, along with major tax reliefs for sugar cooperatives. Further, the Government’s ethanol support scheme has enabled NCDC to release Rs 10,005 crore to 56 cooperative sugar mills, while Indian Potash Limited has initiated efforts to revive closed mills.
