Dehradun witnessed the grand organisation of Cooperative Fair 2025 at Rangers Ground, inaugurated by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday. The event was held on the occasion of the International Year of Cooperatives 2025 and the Silver Jubilee celebrations of Uttarakhand’s statehood.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that cooperatives are not merely an economic model but a powerful medium of social transformation, self-reliance and collective progress. He described the fair as a reflection of Uttarakhand’s cooperative strength, rural empowerment and social dignity.
CM Dhami highlighted that Uttarakhand has emerged as a model state in cooperative reforms, with all 670 cooperative societies fully digitised, making it the first state in the country to achieve this milestone. He said farmers now receive services directly through mobile phones, ensuring transparency and efficiency.
He noted that cooperative societies have expanded beyond credit delivery and are now providing affordable medicines through Jan Aushadhi Kendras, insurance, pension, digital services and utility payments. Data of cooperative societies has also been uploaded on the National Cooperative Database to enhance transparency.
Emphasising women empowerment, the Chief Minister said women cooperative societies and self-help groups are being provided interest-free loans of Rs 5 lakh, strengthening the Lakhpati Didi campaign. On the occasion, CM Dhami released NABARD’s State Focus Paper 2026–27 and distributed loan cheques to cooperative groups.
Several ministers, legislators, senior officials and a large number of citizens attended the event.
