CM Bhajan Lal Sharma said that it is the resolve of our government that the needy person should be benefited from all the public welfare schemes of the government. Cooperatives play an important role in accelerating this resolve. With the spirit of cooperation and prosperity, the state government is working to make all the villages of the state prosperous and happy.
He was addressing the first meeting of the State Apex Committee of the Cooperation Department constituted under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister at the Chief Minister’s residence here on Thursday. He said that under the leadership of successful Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, all sections of the country are getting empowered through cooperatives. The year 2025 has been declared the International Year of Cooperatives by the United Nations General Assembly. He directed the officials to organize various programs including public awareness campaign, cooperative fair, membership campaign and workshops to connect more and more people with cooperatives. He said that along with cooperatives, all the departments associated with the rural sector like agriculture, revenue, panchayati raj, rural development and animal husbandry should also make their active contribution in these programmes.
Shri Sharma said that the new Cooperative Code is being prepared by the State Government to make the Cooperative Act more relevant in the present context. This code will bring comprehensive reforms in the direction of modernization of cooperative societies. He said that the number of members in cooperative institutions should be increased, as well as the process should be made more transparent by computerizing the cooperative institutions. The computerization of the packs should also be completed within the stipulated time period.
The Chief Minister said that the construction of new godowns announced in the budget should be completed in a quality and time-bound manner to ensure its optimum utilization. He said that solar panels should be installed on the roofs of the godowns and a calendar should also be issued regarding the storage of crops. He said that the cooperative department and Rajivika should work in coordination, which will also strengthen the cooperative banks and will also give economic strength to the women. He directed the officers to brand the products made by the cooperatives so that the income of the societies can increase.
In the meeting, Principal Secretary Cooperation Mrs. Manju Rajpal gave information about the action plan of the departmental activities being carried out under the International Cooperation Year 2025 through a presentation. A short film on the activities of the cooperative department was also screened on the occasion. On this occasion, the Minister of State for Cooperation presented to the Chief Minister a memento of the ‘International Year of Cooperatives 2025’ and departmental officials also presented various products made by cooperatives.
Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Zoraram Kumawat, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sumit Godara, Minister of State for Cooperation (Independent Charge) Gautam Kumar Dakha, Minister of State for Urban Development and Autonomous Government (Independent Charge) Jhabar Singh Kharra and other officials were present in the meeting.