Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah has shed light on the critical role played by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) in promoting women-led cooperatives and enhancing the dairy sector. Speaking on the progress as of March 31, 2024, Shah revealed that the NCDC has sanctioned financial assistance of Rs 7,708.09 crore and disbursed Rs 6,426.36 crore for cooperatives exclusively promoted by women.
As per the National Cooperative Database, there are 25,385 registered Women Welfare Cooperative Societies (WWCS) in India, alongside 1,44,396 dairy cooperatives. These cooperatives are instrumental in empowering rural women, offering them opportunities to strengthen their livelihoods and contribute to the rural economy.
Shah also highlighted a pilot project, Cooperation Among Cooperatives, in Gujarat’s Panchmahal and Banaskantha districts. This initiative equips Dairy Cooperative Societies as Business Correspondents or Bank Mitras, providing micro-ATMs and Rupay Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) to address financial needs. During the pilot phase, 22,344 Rupay KCCs, including 6,382 for Animal Husbandry, were issued, benefiting women significantly.
Under the Dairy Sahakar Scheme, NCDC disbursed Rs 145.81 crore to 19,885 dairy cooperatives across eight states, with Telangana receiving the highest allocation of Rs 51.93 crore. Shah emphasized that these initiatives foster self-reliance, empower women, and enhance the cooperative sector’s growth.
