A meeting of the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Food Processing was convened to review the Ministry of Cooperation’s demand for grants. Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani, Secretary of the Ministry, along with senior officials, briefed the committee on the Ministry’s ongoing schemes and future plans designed to enhance the cooperative sector’s development.
The meeting was chaired by Charanjit Singh Channi, who has been serving as a Member of Parliament from the Jalandhar Lok Sabha constituency since June 4, 2024. Channi, a former Chief Minister of Punjab, played a key role in the discussions, ensuring that the committee was well-informed about the Ministry’s initiatives and their potential impact on the cooperative sector.
During the discussions, Jhalawar MP Dushyant Singh raised concerns about the National Cooperative Database dashboard and urged the Ministry to extend its support for cooperative growth in his district.
His inquiry highlighted the significance of data-driven policymaking and the necessity for structured assistance to boost cooperative societies at the regional level.
Over the last three years, the Ministry of Cooperation has spearheaded 56 key initiatives aimed at strengthening economic development and promoting cooperative societies nationwide. Among these is the ICA Global Cooperative Conference 2024, a crucial event for fostering international collaboration in the cooperative sector.
Additionally, a specialized online portal has been launched to streamline the registration, procurement, and payment processes for Tur dal farmers. To enhance operational efficiency, offices of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies (RCSs) and Agricultural and Rural Development Banks (ARDBs) are undergoing computerization. Another landmark initiative is the launch of the world’s largest grain storage scheme in the cooperative sector, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating its pilot project.
In a move to fortify urban cooperative banking, an umbrella organization has been created for Urban Cooperative Banks. A significant agreement was also signed between the National Co-operative Organics Limited (NCOL) and the Uttarakhand Organic Commodity Board (UOCB) to promote organic products.
Strengthening rural economies, the Ministry is facilitating the establishment of 10,000 Multipurpose Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), dairy, and fisheries cooperative societies, ensuring at least one such society in every Panchayat and village.
To bridge financial gaps, Micro-ATMs have been introduced for Bank Mitra Cooperative Societies, with backing from NABARD. The fisheries sector is also witnessing transformative changes. The National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) has already registered 70 Fish Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs), with plans to convert 1,000 existing fisheries cooperative societies into FFPOs. The government has approved an outlay of Rs 225.50 crore to facilitate this transition.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and the guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the Ministry has also constituted three new Multi-State Cooperative Societies dedicated to exports, certified seeds, and organic products.
Tax relief measures have been introduced for cooperative societies to ease financial burdens. Additionally, the Office of the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies is being reinforced to ensure smoother regulation and administration.
Further efforts are being made to revive cooperative sugar mills, with policy interventions offering tax relief to boost their viability.
The creation of an umbrella organization for Urban Cooperative Banks is expected to provide better coordination and financial stability.
Meanwhile, the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) continues to expand its role, enabling greater support for cooperatives across sectors and regions.
