Contribution of Cooperative Societies significant in rural economy: Amit Shah
The
Cooperative sector plays a pivotal role in strengthening the rural economy. The
cooperative societies engaged, particularly, in the rural based sector such as
agriculture, fishery, agro processing, dairy are providing credit, agricultural
inputs and marketing for milk, fish, vegetable, fruits, flower, medicinal
plants, forest products, honey, silk etc.
Financial assistance under various schemes is provided to
the Cooperative sector through Central & State Governments, National Bank
for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), National Cooperative
Development Corporation (NCDC) and other Institutions.
NCDC, which is a statutory corporation under Ministry of
Cooperation, has disbursed financial assistance across the country including
rural areas in the last two years are as follows:
(Rs. In crores)
|
S.No. |
Year |
Disbursement |
|
1. |
2020-21 |
24733.24 |
|
2. |
2021-22 |
34221.08 |
(d). While direct employment is provided by the concerned
Cooperative Societies, the strengthening of the entire ecosystem of Cooperative
sector generates huge opportunities of indirect employment in the rural sector.
Keeping this in mind, the Government has taken many initiatives that includes
preparation of a new National Cooperation Policy, consolidating a National
Cooperative Database, preparing Sahakar se Samriddhi scheme while computerising
the existing Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS) and initiating
stakeholder consultation for Model bye laws for Multipurpose and Multiservice
PACS making such societies multi dimensional and more economically viable units.
This was stated by the Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.