November 14 : Japan Government had approved Rs. 270 crore organic fertilizer project for funding to strengthen the farm sector. This was revealed by Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister while addressing the 56th All India Cooperative Week, State Level Function organized at a remote village Baloh in Bhoranj Sub-Division of district Hamirpur by HIMCOFED.
Chief Minister said that cooperative movement was poised to gain momentum with focused policies and programmes. He said that cooperative needed to motivate the farmers to cultivate cash crops, herbal plants etc. by abandoning old and traditional farming system and adopting income generating farm activities. He said that cooperative banks and cooperative societies needed to take lead and finance such projects of the farmers. He appealed to farmers to avail benefits under Rs. 353 crore Pandit Deen Dayal Kissan Bagwan Samridhi and Rs. 300 crore Doodh Ganga schemes aimed at rural empowerment.
Prof. Dhumal said that cooperative societies needed to be updated to meet the challenges posed by globalization so that it was capable to deliver people goods. He underlined the need for special campaign for strengthening the cooperative movement and adds more members to its fold. He said that periodic training of the cooperators and people managing the affairs was required to be provided to keep pace with the latest trends in the sector. He said it would bring about efficiency and transparency in the functioning of the cooperatives. He also underlined the need for introspection by the cooperators.
Chief Minister said that common man interest needed to be accorded top priority and protected at all level, all required information made available to them. He said that common man had been the focal point of all the policies and programmes of the State Government, which needed to be adhered to the Cooperative Societies as well.
Prof. Dhumal said that Cooperative in the State had membership of 13.66 lakh in about 4500 cooperatives. He said that 2477 cooperatives were financing cooperators, which included two Cooperative Banks, 375 Loan and Saving Cooperatives societies and 2092 primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies. He said that Rs. 375.68 crore worth of agriculture and non-agriculture loans were disbursed during preceding financial year. He said that 1,27,211 poor farmers were also benefitted with Rs. 211.80 crore under Loan Relief Scheme-2008 He said that cooperative societies had been rendering yeoman services towards providing people essential commodities at their door steps through a network of 2746 Fair Price Shops, which had a turnover of Rs. 558.07 crore. He said that Integrated Cooperative
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Development Projects were under implementation in the tribal districts of Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti at a cost of Rs. 433.41 and 414.15 crore respectively, with a view to give momentum to cooperative movement in such areas. He said that such a movement was being revived in the districts of Sirmour, Bilaspur and Hamirpur.
Chief Minister paid tribute to Late Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, the First Prime Minister at his birth anniversary being observed as ‘Bal Divas’ all over the country and lauded the contribution he made towards the interests of the children.
Prof. Dhumal sanctioned Rs. 50,000 for providing toilet facility, Rs. 1.00 lakh for retaining wall, Rs. 2 lakh for ground, Rs. 2 lakh for water supply, Rs. 3 lakh for repair of old school building, 5 new rooms of Govt. High School Baloh, Prof. Dhumal honoured Shri Karam Singh Thakur, Former MLA for being adjudged as Best Cooperator, while Shri Rajnish Rana and Shri Ramesh Kumar, were also awarded for attaining first position in Diploma Courses organized by Cooperative Training Institute Mashobra and Garli in district Kangra.
Chief Minister honoured the Talai Gram Seva Sahkari Sabha Samiti, Talai with first prize, The Dadhol Gram Seva Sahkari Sabha Padyalag, Bilaspur with second prize. The Badher Agriculture Seva Sahkari Sabha Ltd. Haroli (Una) with third prize for their outstanding contribution in cooperative movement in the State for the year 2007-08. He awarded Trophy to the Baloh Sahkari Sabha Samiti Baloh for its model contribution in cooperative society.
Earlier, Chief Minister also dedicated Community Building, constructed by IFFCO, to the cooperators for the area.
Shri I.D. Dhiman, Education Minister said that cooperative was a joint movement to achieve any objective, which was in the common interest of every member. He said that the State Government was extending best of the services to the consumers through the network of fair price shops, which was ensuring essential commodities at reasonable prices. He said that about Rs. 200 crore worth of subsidy was being provided to the consumers over essential commodities through Public Distribution System.
Smt. Urmil Thakur, MLA, Shri K.K. Kaushal, Ex-MLA, Shri Sher Singh Chauhan, Chairman, Agriculture Rural Develoment Bank also spoke on the occasion.
Shri Rasil Singh Mankotia, Chairman, Kangra Central Cooperative Bank detailed the itinerary of the cooperative celebrations.
Shri Des Raj, Chairman, Krishi Sahkari Samiti Baloh also spoke.
Shri Satya Prakash Thakur, Ex-MLA and Chairman, Bhuttico Weaver Cooperative Society and other prominent people were present on the occasion.