TFP Bureau, Raipur, September 4, 2024: Chhattisgarh is gearing up to establish a robust network of cooperative societies in every Gram Panchayat, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to enhance the rural economy through the cooperative movement. Dr. C.R. Prasanna, Secretary of the Cooperative Department, and Shri Kuldeep Sharma, Commissioner of Cooperation and Registrar of Cooperative Societies, reviewed the action plan under the initiative “Sahkar se Samriddhi” and provided necessary guidelines to the officials involved.
During the review meeting, Additional Registrar Shri H.K. Doshi, Apex Bank Managing Director Shri K.N. Kande, and representatives from various state departments, including Agriculture, Public Health Engineering, Animal Husbandry, and Fisheries, were present. Discussions focused on strengthening Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), Fisheries Committees, and Milk Committees, with instructions given to identify and activate both active and inactive committees.
Dr. Prasanna emphasized the need to establish new cooperative committees in Gram Panchayats currently lacking them, with a target set for the next six months. PACS will be developed into Multi Purpose PACS (MultiPEX), offering a range of services to local communities, which will save time and money for farmers, laborers, and the poor. This expansion will include various facilities, making essential services more accessible at the grassroots level.
With the Kharif crop procurement season approaching, Dr. Prasanna stressed the importance of auditing the previous works of all committees. Currently, Chhattisgarh has 2,058 cooperative societies and 2,739 paddy procurement centers. New committees will be established in Gram Panchayats where distances to existing centers are significant. The meeting also reviewed the progress of the Kisan Credit Card and Rupay Credit Card schemes, aiming to maximize the benefits for farmers.
The officials were instructed to update the National Cooperative Database and ensure that all cooperative institutions’ accounts are opened with the District Cooperative Central Bank to support the overall development of the cooperative sector. Additionally, updates were provided on various schemes, including the Vishwa Anna Bhandaran Yojana, Indian Seed Cooperative Society, National Cooperative Export Committee, and the Prime Minister Jan Aushadhi Kendra, with an emphasis on enhancing the reach and efficiency of these initiatives across the state.
