A cooperative society is being formed in every panchayat of the country to realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream of “Sahkar Se Samriddhi”. This was announced in Raipur by the Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah at a review meeting regarding the expansion of cooperatives. Shah also launched the Primary Agriculture Credit Society (PACS) in 33 districts to work as Water Committees in their respective districts.
According to an official release, several dignitaries including Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Vishnu Deo Sai, Union Minister of State for Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol, Deputy Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Arun Sao and Secretary of the Union Ministry of Cooperation Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani were present.
As part of the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, Shah planted saplings under the “Peepal for People” programme and inaugurated various development works of the Chhattisgarh government. He said that the Chhattisgarh government should come up with a new public dairy scheme with a focus on tribal development. The scheme should envisage PACS to work like a multi-purpose unit, catering for dairy and fisheries cooperative institutions as well.
The Union Minister of Cooperation said that all 2058 PACS of Chhattisgarh have adopted the Model Bye-Laws and suggested that the National Cooperative Database should be used to find the dry area in Chhattisgarh which will help in the expansion of cooperatives. He stressed that with computerisation, every PACS should be made a Common Service Center (CSC) so that the benefits of various activities done by PACS can reach the rural people.
Shah said that there should be a contract between NCCF, NAFED and the state for ethanol production so that farmers can be encouraged towards maize cultivation. He said that the cost of maize cultivation is also low and all the maize of the farmers will be purchased by the central government at the Minimum Support Price. He also said that 100% registration should be done by PACS on NAFED and NCCF portals for the sale of farmers' agricultural produce.
The minister said that it should be mandatory for every trader, PACS and cooperative society of every market to open an account in the District Cooperative Central Bank. Chhattisgarh has 4 cooperative sugar mills out of which only one mill has an ethanol production plant.
Shah said that multi-feed ethanol production plants should be set up in the remaining 3 cooperative sugar mills within 6 months so that ethanol can be produced from maize and sugarcane. He said the central government will help in this regard. He also said that there is a need to promote the cultivation of maize and pulses in Chhattisgarh and for this, the state agriculture department should take initiative.
Shah said that at present, there are a total of 6 District Cooperative Central Banks (DCCBs) in 33 districts of Chhattisgarh and keeping in mind the expansion of PACS in the state shortly, at least 4 more DCCBs should be established.
The Animal Husbandry, Agriculture, Tribal Affairs and Cooperative departments of the state government should work together under the Whole of Government Approach for the economic development of rural and tribal people of Chhattisgarh.
