By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 25 Dec: In a virtual event held at the Uttarakhand State Cooperative Federation Hall, Dehradun, Cooperation Minister Dr Dhan Singh Rawat, along with officials from Uttarakhand’s cooperative, fisheries, and dairy sectors, participated in the inauguration of 10,000 multi-purpose PACS (Primary Agricultural Credit Societies), including 125 new societies in Uttarakhand. The event was also attended by various farmers associated with the PACS.
This initiative aims to provide faster access to agricultural inputs such as fertilisers, seeds, medicines, and financial services, as well as to disseminate government schemes to the rural population. The inauguration was led by Union Minister Amit Shah from New Delhi, where 10,000 PACS were launched across India, including dairy and fisheries cooperatives.
In Dehradun, the event began with lighting of the lamp by Cooperation Minister Dr Dhan Singh Rawat, Secretary, Cooperatives, Dilip Jawalkar, Secretary, Fisheries and Dairy, Dr BVRC Purushottam, and other dignitaries.
In his address, Minister Dr Dhan Singh Rawat expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah for their vision and support. He mentioned that, under the leadership of Amit Shah, the goal is to establish 2 lakh PACS within 5 years, and as a result, 10,000 multi-purpose societies have been established within 100 days.
Dr Rawat highlighted that, in Uttarakhand, 125 new PACS have already been formed, with a target to establish multi-purpose committees at every village level within the next 100 days. These societies will help deliver various government services and schemes efficiently to rural populations. Currently, PACS provide 24 different services such as train and bus tickets, electricity bills, birth and death certificates, and more to rural communities.
Dr Rawat also shared that, in Uttarakhand, over one lakh new members have been enrolled in cooperative societies, and 60% of multi-purpose cooperatives are now operating profitably. The Uttarakhand Cooperative Bank is in a financially healthy state, and farmers are now receiving interest-free loans in a transparent manner.
In his speech, Secretary Dilip Jawalkar, emphasised the role of cooperatives in strengthening the economy and promoting democratic values, traditions, and prosperity. He highlighted the formation of PACS as a key step in ensuring financial stability and access to government services for farmers and rural communities.
During the programme, 11 newly formed PACS were presented certificates, and five farmers were provided Micro ATMs.
At the end of the event, Cooperation Minister Dr Dhan Singh Rawat, Secretary Jawalkar, and Dr Purushottam presented the Naikoff Award 2024 to Anand Shukla, Managing Director of the Uttarakhand Sericulture Federation, for outstanding work in the cooperative sector.
The event was attended by around 300 participants, including officials from NABARD, M-PACS, Dairy, and Fisheries cooperative societies, and other prominent figures in the cooperative sector.
