JAMMU, JANAUARY 18 (KNO) : Minister for Cooperatives and Ladakh Affairs, Chering Dorjay today said that Co-operative movement aims at all round economic and social development of small and marginal farmers, artisans and other societies through its operations and present government is introducing various initiatives to strengthen and revive this important sector.
The Minister said this while replying to the discussion on Demand for Grants of Cooperatives, Ladakh Affairs Departments in the Legislative Assembly.
The Minister informed that for revival of Cooperative Movement in the state, the government is in process of formulating a New Cooperative Act. This uniform Cooperative Act will combine the existing J&K Cooperative Society Act 1989 and Self Reliant Cooperative Act 1999, while keeping the democratic and autonomous character of the Cooperative Societies and Cooperative Banks intact.
“No elections were conducted for the Cooperative Societies for the last 10 years. I am happy to announce that election to primary and secondary Cooperative Societies in all the 3 regions of the state have been successfully conducted by the department”, the Minister informed.
With regard to the Budget 2018-19 proposals, providing capital infusion of Rs 255 crore to 3 unlicensed District Central Cooperative Banks, the Minister thanked the Finance Minister for this much needed initiative and said that these banks will now be able to meet the required criteria to become eligible for acquiring RBI license. Government of India has also contributed Rs 111 crore for the revival of these banks, he added.
The Minister said that the government is coming up with a big structural reform scheme for Cooperative Banks which was elaborated in detail by the Finance Minister in his budget speech. The present 3 tier structure of banks will be restructured to a 2 tier by merging the district Central Cooperative Banks and SCARD Bank and the J&K State Cooperative Bank. This bank will be linked to Panchayats and a professional board will manage the bank till the bank is put on track, he added.
“Now this bank will provide rural citizens with improved access to a range of Government schemes as well as financial services, allowing citizens to carry out basic financial transactions”, Dorjay said, adding that the banks will then become financially viable and be able to cater short term and micro credit requirements of the farmers and artisans.
To give push to the Cooperative movement in the state, focused awareness creation programmes are being undertake, the Minister informed. Departmental Newsletter, ‘Our Cooperatives, Our Strength’ 2017 was also published highlighting various schemes and other achievements of the department for public information.
Enumerating the achievements of the department under various programme and schemes, the Minister said that under centrally sponsored scheme Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY), many projects involving major cost have been initiated at various places in the state.
Regarding performance of Cooperative Fair Price Shops, it was informed that during 2016-17, Super Bazars at Jammu and Srinagar have made sales worth Rs 1210.01 lakh and Rs 741.31 lakh, respectively.
Dorjey said that Jammu and Kashmir Milk Producers Cooperative Ltd. (JKMPCL) is doing well in terms of business turnover and presently about 18500 litres of milk per day are processed and supplied under the brand of ‘Snowcap’ by both the Milk Plants at Satwari Jammu and Cheshmashahi in Srinagar.
The department has also been providing Special Assistance for augmenting the working capital of Cooperative Societies and Managerial Subsidy for subsidizing the cost of management to eligible societies, the Minister informed.
“Under this programme, during the fiscal 2017-18, Rs 45.60 lakh and Rs 81.60 lakh was provided for Managerial Subsidy and Special Assistance respectively,” he said.
With regard to the Ladakh Affairs Department, the Minister informed the House that 2 Autonomous Hill Development Councils are fully functional in Leh and Kargil districts and are consistently working to strengthen and develop Ladakh region.
The State Government is providing necessary funds to these councils to ensure development of the region under various schemes of state Capex, district sector, Centrally Sponsored Schemes, he said.
The Minister said for the financial year 2017-18, an amount of Rs 249 crore was provided under various schemes/programmes and an amount of Rs 271.42 crore has been proposed for the next financial year 2018-19 under Capex budget, the Minister informed. Besides, under Special Task Force (STF) funds to the tune of Rs 415.70 crore have been allocated to the Ladakh region.
He further informed that major development projects are being taken up with Rs 21326 crore PMDP allocation including construction of Zojila tunnel, tunnel at Lacchulunga pass and Tegland pass (Manali – Leh), generation of Solar Pilot Project of 20 KV each in Leh & Kargil, Pashmina Promotion Programme, Construction of cold storage facilities at Leh & Kargil, 50% subsidy support for setting up Solar Dryers, among others.
Further, both the councils have proposed amendments to the LAHDC Act to make more effective which is under the considerations of the government, he said.
The Minister also expressed thanks to the Finance Minister for approving 10% Special Duty Allowance on Basic Pay for the employees working in difficult areas like Ladakh region.
Later, the House unanimously passed the grants amounting to Rs 97635.13 lakhs to defray the charges which will come in course of payment during the year ending 31st March, 2019 for Other Special Area Programmes, Capital Outlay on Other Special Areas Programmes, Co-operation, capital outlay on Cooperation.
Earlier, several Members participated in discussion on demand for Grants including Altaf Ahmad Wani, Syed Farooq Ahmad Andrabi, Neelam Kumar Langeh, Aijaz Ahmad Khan, Bashir Ahmad Dar, Mubarak Gul, Raja Manzoor Ahmad, Choudhry Sukhnadan Kumar, Nawang Rigzin Jora, Noor Mohammad Sheikh, Daleep Singh Parihar, Mohammad Akbar Lone, Asgar Ali Karbalie, Abdul Rahim Rather, Usman Abdul Majid and Ravinder Raina.(KNO)
HIGHLIGHTS
· New Cooperative Act on anvil for revival of Cooperative Movement
· Elections conducted across JK for Primary, Secondary Cooperative Societies, after a gap of 10 yrs
· Capital infusion of Rs 255 crores from State Government and Rs 111 crores from GoI for revival of 3 District Cooperative Banks
· Banks to be restructured to 2-tier system by merging DCCB, SCARDB and JKSCB to serve as Panchayat Bank
· Additional accommodation, meeting hall constructed at Cooperative Complex, Bantalab, Jammu, worth Rs 45.05 lakh
· Post flood portion of Cooperative complex, at Bemina Srinagar renovated at a cost of Rs 65.08 lakh
· Renovation /modernization of Super Bazaar Leh & Kargil done at a cost of Rs 40.50 lakh and Rs 45.32 lakh respectively
· Awareness camps organized across State to revive cooperative movement
· LAHDC Act updation being considered in consultation with both Councils to make it more effective
· Under Rs 21326 crore PMDP, major development projects underway including Zojilla tunnel, generation of Solar Pilot Project of 20 KV each in Leh & Kargil