Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 18: 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 and Ladakh Affairs Departments in the Legislative Assembly.
He 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 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 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.
To give push to the Cooperative Movement in the State, focused awareness creation programmes are being undertake, the Minister informed.
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.
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.
Later, the House unanimously passed the grants.
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