Jharkhand has recorded the formation of 561 new cooperative societies under the Centre’s nationwide plan to strengthen and expand the cooperative movement, Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah informed in the Rajya Sabha.
According to the written reply, the initiative, approved on February 15, 2023, aims to extend the cooperative network to every panchayat and village over the next five years by establishing multipurpose PACS, dairy and fisheries cooperatives.
In Jharkhand, the newly formed societies include 127 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), 257 dairy cooperatives and 177 fisheries cooperatives, indicating progress in grassroots-level expansion.
The plan is being implemented through convergence of schemes such as the Dairy Infrastructure Development Fund, National Programme for Dairy Development and PM Matsya Sampada Yojana, with support from National Cooperative Development Corporation, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, National Dairy Development Board and National Fisheries Development Board.
A multi-tier institutional framework, from national to district level, has been established to ensure effective implementation and monitoring of the initiative.