Is India Crafting a New Narrative of Abundance? Rajasthan CM Explains
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Synopsis
Rajasthan's Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma unveils the Cooperative Membership Campaign, showcasing a commitment to growth through cooperation. This initiative emphasizes women's and youth's roles while aiming to enhance the cooperative sector significantly. With ambitious goals for the state's development, this campaign looks to set a new standard for prosperity in Rajasthan.
Key Takeaways
- Launch of Cooperative Membership Campaign aimed at enhancing cooperatives.
- Focus on women's and youth participation in cooperative societies.
- Target to increase cooperative societies by 10%.
- New PACS to be established in 2,158 gram panchayats.
- Significant loans distributed to farmers and small businesses.
Jaipur, Oct 2 (NationPress) Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma officially kicked off the Cooperative Membership Campaign on Thursday, emphasizing that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, the nation is embarking on a new era of prosperity through collaboration.
The state government is dedicated to enhancing Rajasthan's development by fortifying cooperatives, particularly focusing on the involvement of women and youth. This campaign will be active throughout the state from October 2 to October 15.
While addressing attendees at the Constitution Club, Sharma stated that camps will be established at approximately 8,300 PACS levels, along with five departmental initiatives. The goal is to boost the number of cooperative societies by 10 percent.
Sharma declared that new PACS will be created in 2,158 gram panchayats that currently lack them, and land will be provided to village service cooperative societies needing space for warehouses.
To promote women's participation, there will be initiatives to incorporate pulses, spices, and various crops into cooperatives.
The Chief Minister highlighted how cooperatives offer social and cultural strength while ensuring economic stability for the underprivileged and middle class.
He noted that interest-free short-term crop loans totaling Rs 42,765 crore have been disbursed to over 7.7 million farmers, in addition to Rs 433 crore in loans to 248,000 new farmers and Rs 260 crore in livelihood loans to more than 30,000 beneficiaries.
As part of the Food Storage Scheme, warehouses, processing facilities, and custom hiring centers have been established at the Ghumudwali PACS in Sri Ganganagar. Cooperative banks have also provided long-term loans amounting to Rs 246 crore to nearly 7,000 farmers and small business owners.
Sharma commended Prime Minister Modi for creating the Ministry of Cooperation in July 2021, positioning cooperatives as a critical element of development.
He mentioned that more than 7.6 million farmers in Rajasthan have gained from the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, receiving over Rs 7,054 crore.
The state government, through the Chief Minister’s Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, is also providing Rs 3,000 annually to farmers, with more than Rs 1,355 crore disbursed to date.
Sharma emphasized the initiatives taken by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah in transforming the cooperative landscape.
In the past four years, over 100 initiatives have been introduced to enhance PACS, dairy, fisheries, sugar cooperatives, and banks, while efforts are underway to digitize PACS through a national software network.
Plans are in place to establish over two lakh multipurpose PACS, dairy, and fisheries cooperatives in every village within five years, in addition to constructing warehouses and storage facilities under the world’s largest decentralized grain storage scheme.
Highlighting the importance of animal husbandry for farmers’ prosperity, Sharma noted that the Gopal Credit Card Loan Scheme is offering interest-free loans of up to Rs 1 lakh for dairy ventures, and mobile veterinary units have been deployed for livestock care.
He also mentioned that projects like the Ram Jal Setu Link Project, the Yamuna Water Agreement, and the Dewas Project are revolutionizing irrigation and drinking water access.
The government has issued appointment letters to 91,000 young individuals, working towards a goal of 4 lakh government jobs within five years. Animal Husbandry and Dairy Minister Joraram Kumawat also spoke at the event, emphasizing that the essence of cooperation is captured in the spirit of “one for all, all for one.”
He affirmed that the campaign aims to enroll more members in the dairy sector than initially targeted, with a strong emphasis on women’s involvement. The Chief Minister has allocated over Rs 700 crore in the state budget to bolster the dairy industry.
Point of View
Rajasthan's initiative under Chief Minister Sharma reflects a significant commitment to local empowerment and economic growth. The focus on inclusivity, particularly with women and youth, positions this campaign as a model for other regions. This shift towards cooperative prosperity is essential for sustainable development and showcases a strong governmental effort to uplift marginalized communities.
NationPress
02/10/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Cooperative Membership Campaign?
The Cooperative Membership Campaign is an initiative launched by Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma aimed at increasing the membership and strength of cooperatives across the state, particularly focusing on women's and youth's involvement.
What are the goals of this campaign?
The campaign targets a 10% increase in cooperative societies, establishment of new PACS in various gram panchayats, and enhanced participation of women in cooperatives.
How will this campaign impact farmers?
The campaign aims to provide better access to loans and resources for farmers, including interest-free loans and new cooperative infrastructures, enhancing their economic stability.
What role do cooperatives play in the community?
Cooperatives provide social and cultural support to communities while ensuring economic security for low-income and middle-class families.
How is the government supporting this initiative?
The government has allocated substantial funds and resources to support the cooperative sector, including budget allocations and loan distributions to farmers.
