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Punjab takes steps to strengthen co-operatives

CHANDIGARH: While seeking to bail out farmers from the current financial mess, the Punjab Government has unveiled a bouquet of initiatives that would also improve the fiscal lot of the primary agriculture co-operative societies.

This was disclosed by Punjab Co-operation Minister Kanwaljit Singh who was talking to reporters after presiding over a workshop on “Strengthening of co-operatives in Punjab”. He said the ambitious plan included marketing of consumer goods on CSD pattern and offering an insurance cover to farmers to face losses caused by climatic exigencies.

Capt. Singh said that only a strong, vibrant and economically self-sufficient co-operative movement in the State could bail out the farmers who were faced with a serious financial crisis. He disclosed that the Co-operative Department had evolved a plan in which the various societies would purchase consumer goods directly from the manufacturers and market them to their respective members. While the arrangement would be finalised at the State level, the respective societies would be able to collect the goods from their nearest dealers.

He said the societies would not only be able to mobilise more funds for refinancing its members, the consumers would also get goods at cheaper rates at their doorstep.

The Minister also announced that Cooperatives department had tied up with the Punjab State Electricity Board for distribution of its bills through the societies in villages. Capt. Singh also announced State-wide launch of Barish Beema Yojna (Rain Insurance Scheme). This scheme was first implemented in Patiala Division on an experimental basis, through which 6,000 farmers belonging to 350 societies received Rs.1.25 crore as compensation. Responding to a query, Capt. Singh said Punjab has actually gained by opposing the recommendations of Vaidyanathan Committee as the State was offered a paltry Rs.82 crore out of a total of Rs.20,000 crore allocated by the Centre. He said Punjab would get an indirect benefit of more than Rs.500 crore as NABARD had agreed to share the losses of the societies. Of the nearly 3,500 societies in the State, 1,100 are defaulters, he reminded.

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Punjab takes steps to strengthen co-operatives

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