State-level Cooperative Conference marks five years of Union Ministry of Cooperation; ₹162 crore incentive for tendu leaf collectors launched, 1,352 new cooperative societies formed across the state
TFP Bureau, Raipur, July 3,2026: Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai on Friday said the cooperative movement is emerging as a powerful engine for increasing farmers’ income, strengthening the rural economy and building a developed Chhattisgarh. Addressing the state-level Cooperative Conference and Cooperative Week celebrations held at Indira Gandhi Agricultural University to mark five years of the Union Ministry of Cooperation, the Chief Minister said the vision of “Sahkar se Samriddhi” (Prosperity through Cooperation) is transforming rural livelihoods across the state.
Highlighting the role of the Ministry of Cooperation, established under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Sai described it as a landmark step towards empowering farmers, forest dwellers, women and rural communities through cooperative institutions. He said the state government is working to ensure that the benefits of the cooperative movement reach every village.
During the programme, the Chief Minister launched the distribution of incentive payments worth more than ₹162 crore to 7.14 lakh tendu leaf collectors for the 2023 collection season. He also presented the Sahkar Prerna Puraskar to outstanding cooperative societies and distributed dividends to women’s self-help groups.
Recalling his long association with the cooperative movement, Sai said he had always believed in its potential to transform rural lives. He noted that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the cooperative sector has expanded beyond agriculture to include dairy, animal husbandry, fisheries, forest produce and rural entrepreneurship, creating new livelihood opportunities.
The Chief Minister said more than 15 lakh farmers in Chhattisgarh have received interest-free agricultural loans exceeding ₹8,000 crore this year through cooperative institutions and the Kisan Credit Card scheme, easing financial burdens and improving access to credit.
He added that the state government has strengthened the cooperative network by establishing 1,352 new cooperative societies, ensuring that no Gram Panchayat remains outside the cooperative framework. The government is also promoting dairy development in collaboration with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to boost rural incomes
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Sai also launched the Cooperation Department’s online portal, which will enable transparent, time-bound and fully online registration of farmers in cooperative societies.
Speaking at the event, Cooperation Minister Shri Kedar Kashyap said the past two years have witnessed unprecedented growth in the cooperative sector in Chhattisgarh. He said the expansion of cooperatives would play a crucial role in strengthening the rural economy and achieving the vision of a developed state.
The Chief Minister also visited exhibition stalls set up by various cooperative organisations, showcasing initiatives in agriculture, dairy, forest produce, women’s empowerment and rural enterprise.
