Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai, while emphasizing on empowering farmers, forest dwellers and women groups in the cooperative conference, released an incentive amount of Rs 162 crore.
Raipur. Chief Minister Shri Vishnudev Sai said that the formation of the Ministry of Cooperation under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has proved to be a historic step towards the development of the country. This decision is proving important towards achieving the goal of ‘prosperity through cooperation’. Double Engine The government is making continuous efforts to increase the income of farmers, forest dwellers, women self-help groups and rural families through cooperatives in Chhattisgarh and to empower them economically.
The Chief Minister was addressing the State Level Cooperative Conference and Cooperative Week program organized at Krishi Mandapam of Indira Gandhi Agricultural University on Friday. During this, he presented Sahakar Prerna Awards to excellent cooperative societies and inaugurated the distribution of incentive remuneration amounting to more than Rs 162 crore to 7.14 lakh tendu leaf collectors for the collection year 2023.
The dream of increasing farmers’ income through cooperatives is now coming true.
Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai said that his childhood was spent in a farmer’s family and he has had a deep connection with cooperation since the beginning. He always believed that there was immense potential in this field. Today, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the dream of ‘prosperity through cooperation’ seems to be turning into reality.
He told that during the first term of the Prime Minister, he got the opportunity to work as the Union Minister of State, where he closely saw the sensitivity and dedication of the Prime Minister towards the farmers. Due to this thinking, the Ministry of Agriculture was expanded and given the form of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare so that the overall development of the farmers can be ensured.
The Chief Minister said that cooperation has become an effective medium for increasing the income of farmers, strengthening the rural economy and building a self-reliant India. Under the guidance of the Central Government, the cooperative sector has got a new direction, the direct benefits of which are reaching the farmers and rural families.
Animal husbandry, milk production and rural entrepreneurship are also getting new momentum.
The Chief Minister said that the Central Government is not limited only to the agriculture sector, but cooperation is also being strengthened in areas like animal husbandry, milk production, fisheries, forest produce and rural entrepreneurship. He said that with the support of National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), positive changes are being seen in the field of milk production in the state. The state government is continuously working to take animal husbandry to new heights.
Interest free loan to farmers, more than 15 lakh farmers got Rs 8 thousand crore
Chief Minister Sai said that earlier farmers had to take loans for farming at 16 to 18 percent interest rate, which increased the financial burden on them. Now interest-free loans are being provided to farmers through cooperative system and Kisan Credit Card (KCC). He said that this year, agricultural loans worth more than Rs 8 thousand crore have been given to more than 15 lakh farmers of the state, which has provided easy financial assistance for farming and strengthened the economic condition of the farmers.
Confidence of major changes in rural economy through cooperation
The Chief Minister said that with the strong willpower, guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leadership of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and efforts of the security forces, decisive success has been achieved against Naxalism, in the same way, comprehensive change will be brought about in the rural economy through cooperation. He expressed confidence that the discussions of experts during the Cooperative Week will establish new dimensions of cooperation in the state and its benefits will reach the last person of the society.
Boom in cooperative sector in two years, formation of 1352 new cooperative societies
Cooperative Minister Shri Kedar Kashyap said that completion of five years of the Cooperative Ministry is a matter of pride for the entire country. He informed that various programs are being organized under Co-operation Week from 29th June to 6th July. He said that in the last two years, remarkable work has been done in the field of cooperation in Chhattisgarh. With the aim of strengthening the rural economy, under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai, 1352 new cooperative societies have been formed so that no panchayat in the state remains deprived of cooperatives.
Online portal started for farmers, registration will be completely transparent
During the program, the Chief Minister also launched the online portal of the Cooperative Department. He said that through this portal, registration of farmers can be done in a completely online, transparent and time bound manner, which will make the processes easier.
Innovations of cooperative institutions appreciated in the exhibition, benefits of many schemes distributed
Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai visited the exhibition stalls set up by various cooperative institutions at the venue and appreciated the innovations of farmers, women self-help groups and Vandhan committees. He took information about the work of many institutions including Harit Kranti Tribal Cooperative Society Jashpur, Mahamaya Multipurpose Cooperative Society Korba, Bilasa Handloom Emporium, Chhattisgarh Herbals, National Cooperative Development Corporation, NAFED, Chhattisgarh State Cooperative Milk Federation, IFFCO and Ganga Maiya Milk Producers Union Balod.
During this, the Chief Minister distributed micro ATMs to 5 new PACS committees, launched five new products of Chhattisgarh Herbals, honored excellent tendu leaf collectors, released handbooks of Vandhan committees, distributed dividends to women self-help groups and also provided materials, incentive money and KCC loans to various beneficiaries. Many public representatives, officials of cooperative institutions, officers, farmers and a large number of beneficiaries were present in the program.