LOOKING AHEAD: D. Redya Naik, Minister for Tribal Welfare, addressing a press conference in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday. Minister Kasu Krishna Reddy and Visakha-II MLA S. Rangarajuare also seen . — Photo:C.V.Subrahmanyam

VISAKHAPATNAM: Several plans are being drawn to make the Girijan Cooperative Corporation (GCC) self-sufficient and provide more help to the Girijans, said Tribal Welfare Minister D.S. Redya Naik here on Tuesday.

"GCC is 50-years-old but still failed to achieve self-sufficiency. We will make every one accountable, from the VC-MD to the salesman and turn it (GCC) into a profit-making organisation", Mr. Redya Naik said at a press conference.

He gave details of an extensive review meeting on GCC held here on Monday. Among the decisions taken during the meeting was to conduct a detailed survey at the field level to ascertain the quantity of forest and agricultural produce, what quantity was being produced and how much more could be done so that revised targets could be fixed. This should be completed in a month's time. Value of present procurement is Rs. 35 crores.

Every Daily Requirements Depot (DR Depot), Primary Cooperative Society and Division would be set monthly targets and their working would be reviewed periodically. The staff achieving 100 per cent target would be rewarded and those who failed to perform well would be punished.

It was also noticed that the good demand in North India for products like Rajma and white beans, grown in the traditional methods and by using bio-fertilizers, was not being completely exploited. "The Rajma yield is 50,000 quintals but GCC is able to procure only 5,000 quintals to 10,000 quintals from the Girijan farmers.

We found the need to procure Rajma in full level and market the same", the Minister said. The plan is to provide loans to the farmers and come into an understanding with them to procure the product from them.

There was also a need to make every DR Depot, Divisional and Zonal wing to be made self-sufficient, Mr. Redya Naik said. GCC would propose to the Government to allow it to waive the interest on agricultural loan.

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