The National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) has stepped up efforts to expand the participation of women, youth, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the cooperative sector through a range of targeted financial and support schemes.
According to official data, NCDC operates dedicated initiatives such as Nandini Sahakar, Swayam Shakti Sahakar, Ayushman Sahakar and Yuva Sahakar, offering concessional finance, interest subvention and start-up support to women-led, youth-led, SC/ST and innovative cooperatives.
During 2024–25, NCDC disbursed Rs 1,355.61 crore to women-promoted cooperatives, benefiting over 41 lakh women members. Cumulatively, financial assistance to cooperatives exclusively promoted by women has reached Rs 7,781.97 crore as on March 31, 2025.
Support to SC/ST cooperatives was also expanded. In FY 2024–25, Rs 0.18 crore was released to Scheduled Caste cooperatives and Rs 29.63 crore to Scheduled Tribe cooperatives. Cumulative disbursements stand at Rs 323.52 crore for SC and Rs 5,308.02 crore for ST cooperatives.
NCDC is also supporting cooperatives in fisheries, livestock, handloom, sericulture and labour sectors, with a focus on women empowerment, digitisation and rural healthcare.