The state government is working on a road map to revive the Cooperative movement in the State for which several steps for streamlining the Cooperative Department is under way with the aim that the benefits of the centrally and sponsored schemes percolate to the people at grass root level.This was stated by the Minister for Cooperative Mr Chering Dorjay while chairing a review meeting convened to take stock of the working of Cooperative Department here today.The Minister said that Cooperative Movement is in existence since 1913 as an economic system and has played a vital role in economic development of the State. He said that Cooperative Institutions came to play a constructive role in the distribution of rural credit, agriculture inputs and consumer articles.
Dorjey said that the movement has been safeguarded by the enactment of Cooperative laws specially designed and drafted to facilitate the formulation of such indigenous institutions. The legal framework has been updated quite a number of times till date.The Minister reaffirmed the commitment of the present Government to boost the Cooperative movement in view of its huge potential to generate employment through well establishment and profit generating Cooperative Societies.
The Minister particularly stressed on generating awareness regarding the modern techniques and new developments in the Cooperative Sector. He assured that the present regime will leave no stone unturned to streamline the functioning of the Cooperative Sector in the State.
During the course of meeting, the Minister took a comprehensive assessment of the working of the Cooperative Sector in Kashmir Division.Threadbare discussions were held on progress of Poultry Projects, Integrated Cooperative Development Projects (ICDS) in Anantnag, formulation of DPRs for ICDS in Leh and Kargil, RKVY, Action Plan for release of funds under different schemes, working of Co-operative Societies/Institutions, Registration of new Societies under new acts, revival of sic units, disposal of arbitration cases etc.Secretary Cooperative Mr. Hilal Ahmad Parray and Registrar Cooperative Mr. Basharat Saleem gave detailed resume of the activities to the Minister through Power Point Presentations.The meeting was informed that 48 Poultry Projects at an estimated cost of 40.72 lakh per project with a rearing capacity of 2, 40,000 birds per cluster was sanctioned for the State in 2nd phase. It was given out in the meeting that 6 projects are fully completed and started rearing while as 10 projects are in pipeline at different stages.
It was given out in the meeting that under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY) 1000 MTs Fertilizer Godown is under construction at an estimated cost of Rs 110.18 lac at Sunderbani, Rajouri. Out of which Rs 40 lacs have been incurred on the project.The meeting was informed that the Cooperativer department possess the assests worth crores of rupees which include 364 kanal land, 21 kanal title ownership land, 774 shops, 55 complexes, 353 godowns, 35 tin sheds 43 office complexes, 736 K. Oil Tanks and 9 vehicles.The meeting was informed that the Department has resolved to revive the sick Cooperative Societies and during the last three years 61 such sick units have been revived in Kashmir.Besides, Additional Secretary Rafiq Ahmad and Additional Registrar Cooperatives Peer Hafeezullah Shah, the Joint Registrars and Deputy Registrars were present in the meeting.