The Governor of Uttarakhand, Lt. Gen. Gurmit Singh and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami jointly participated in the ‘Sahkarita Mein Sahkar’ program at Raj Bhavan on the occasion of International Year of Cooperatives–2025 on Wednesday.
On this occasion, two important Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed in the presence of the Governor and the Chief Minister.
The first MoU was signed between Bharatiya Beej Sahakari Samiti and the Uttarakhand State Cooperative Federation, opening new avenues in seed production and distribution, which will prove to be a milestone for farmers and cooperative societies in the state.
The second MoU was signed between the National Cooperative Export Society and the Uttarakhand State Cooperative Federation to facilitate access of state agricultural cooperatives and farmers to national and international markets.
The Governor and Chief Minister also launched two new policies- the Loan Policy of Uttarakhand State Cooperative Bank and the Commercial Real Estate-Housing Loan Policy. In addition, Jasput-based Fikapar MPax and the Main Branch of Dehradun District Cooperative Bank were honored for their outstanding work. Beneficiaries of the Deendayal Upadhyay Sahkarita Kisan Kalyan Yojana were also provided cheques during the event.
Addressing the gathering, Governor Gurmit Singh said that the cooperative movement is not about one individual but a collective effort. He described cooperation as an integral part of India’s cultural philosophy and called it a revolution that is paving the way for socio-economic prosperity.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, in his address, emphasized that cooperation is not merely an organizational system but a powerful means of holistic social development. He highlighted that the cooperative movement aims not at competition but at progress through mutual cooperation, with the objective of making individuals self-reliant and empowered.
The Chief Minister underlined that cooperatives are strengthening the rural economy of the state. He informed that Uttarakhand was the first state in the country to initiate the computerization of multipurpose cooperative societies, and all 671 societies have now been computerized.
Of these, 24 societies are functioning as Jan Aushadhi Kendras and 640 societies have been developed as Common Service Centers (CSCs). Data of 3,838 out of 5,511 societies across 13 districts has been uploaded on the National Cooperative Database, bringing greater transparency.
Highlighting government initiatives, Dhami said that since February 2023, the state has formed 800 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), 248 new dairy cooperatives, and 116 fisheries cooperatives. Under the Deendayal Upadhyay scheme, farmers are being provided interest-free loans of up to Rs 5 lakh.
The Chief Minister also noted that cooperative banks in the state hold deposits worth over Rs 16,000 crore, reflecting growing public trust in these institutions. He further lauded the achievement of over 1.63 lakh women who have become “Lakhpati Didis,” marking a milestone in women empowerment through cooperatives.
On the occasion, Kapil Meena, Director of Cooperatives (Government of India), shared information on central government initiatives in the cooperative sector, while Dr. B.V.R.C. Purushottam, Secretary, Cooperatives, presented the state’s cooperative programs and achievements.
The event was also attended by Cooperation Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat, Registrar of Cooperatives Dr. Mehrban Singh Bisht, Additional Registrar Smt. Ira Upreti, Joint Registrar Neeraj Belwal, senior officials of the Cooperative Department, representatives of cooperative banks, as well as women from self-help groups and participants from across districts.
