Raipur, Chhattisgarh – Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah convened a pivotal review meeting in Raipur on Sunday, focusing on the expansion of cooperative societies across Chhattisgarh. The Union Cooperation Minister also launches Primary Agriculture Credit Society (PACS) in the 33 districts to work as Water Committees in their respective districts. This initiative aims to bolster local water management and agricultural support.
The meeting was attended by several dignitaries including Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Union Minister of State for Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol, Deputy Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Arun Sao and Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani, Secretary (Cooperation), Govt. of India.
In addition to the cooperative progress review, Shri Amit Shah participated in the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign by planting saplings as part of the “Peepal for People” initiative. He also inaugurated several development projects initiated by the Chhattisgarh government.
Shah, in his address reiterated the importance of cooperatives and said that a cooperative society is being formed in every panchayat of the country to realize the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s dream of “Sahkar Se Samriddhi”. He proposed that Chhattisgarh introduce a new public dairy scheme, particularly targeting tribal development, which could see PACS evolve into multi-purpose units that include dairy and fisheries cooperatives.
Highlighting recent progress, Shah noted that all 2,058 PACS in Chhattisgarh have adopted Model Bye-Laws. He advocated for utilizing the National Cooperative Database to identify dry areas for cooperative expansion and emphasised that with compterization, PACS be made a Common Service Centers (CSCs) that can enhance service delivery to rural communities.
Shah also recommended establishing a contractual arrangement between the National Cooperative Consumers Federation (NCCF), the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED), and the state for ethanol production. This move is intended to encourage maize cultivation, with assurances that the central government will purchase all maize produced at the Minimum Support Price (MSP). He urged that all PACS register on the NAFED and NCCF portals to facilitate the sale of faromers’ agricultural produce.
To further support the agricultural sector, Shah proposed that every trader, PACS, and cooperative society in the market should open an account with the District Cooperative Central Bank (DCCB). He noted that out of the four cooperative sugar mills in Chhattisgarh, only one currently produces ethanol. He called for the establishment of multi-feed ethanol production plants in the remaining three mills within the next six months so that ethanol can be produced from maize and sugarcane.
The Union Minister further said that Chhattisgarh has six DCCBs spread across its 33 districts. To support the anticipated expansion of PACS, he recommended setting up at least four additional DCCBs. He stressed that the Animal Husbandry, Agriculture, Tribal Affairs, and Cooperative departments should collaborate under a “Whole of Government Approach” to drive the economic development of rural and tribal communities in the state.
Amit Shah’s visit and practical suggestions reflect a significant push towards promoting cooperative sector in the state.
