National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) has disbursed Rs 5,714.88 Crore to Women Cooperatives benefitting more than 1.56 Crore women members, informed Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha.
He further added, “Nandini Sahakar Scheme of NCDC under Ministry of Cooperation is a financial assistance scheme for project formulation, handholding and capacity development of women cooperatives”.
The Ministry of Cooperation has made various efforts for the betterment, empowerment and income generation for women in the cooperative sector.
During the year 2022-23 Vamnicom has conducted 24 training programmes exclusively for women with 1056 participants. And in the year 2023-24 (up to Nov, 2023) the Vamnicom has conducted 29 training programmes exclusively for women with 1,010 participants, Shah replied.
He further said, “The Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Act) 2002 has been amended to mandate the requirement of women Directors in the Board of Multi-State Cooperative Societies. This will ensure representation of women in the Board of more than 1,550 Multi-State Cooperatives across the country”, he revealed.
Besides, Model Bye Laws for the PACS have been prepared by the Ministry of Cooperation and adopted by States/UTs across the country. It mandates the requirement of women Directors in the Board of PACS. This will ensure representation of women and their decision making in more than 1 Lakh PACS.
The question was raised by the member Mrs Geeta Alias Chandraprabha the objective of the Nandini Sahakar Yojana being run by the National CooperativeDevelopment Corporation (NCDC).
She also sought the details of State-wise assistance approved and distributed during the last three years under the scheme; and the details of benefits derived by the women’s Co-operative societies from this scheme.
The Following chart gives details of assistance year wise:
