Chandigarh, November 14 – Haryana Chief Minister ShNayab Singh Saini inaugurated the 72nd State-Level Cooperative Week in Sonipat on Friday. Addressing the gathering, he said that the soul of India resides in its villages and that the path to progress lies through cooperation. He said that this year is being celebrated as the Year of Cooperatives, and the event will play a key role in achieving the vision of prosperity through cooperation and self-reliance. The Chief Minister urged the youth to shed traditional mindsets, form cooperatives, and transform them into global brands through the power of Digital India.
The Chief Minister said that we must remember the millions of people who, through their small savings and collective strength, built a robust cooperative movement. Today, India is the world’s fourth-largest economy and is rapidly moving toward becoming the third largest. Cooperatives, he said, are vital to achieving this goal. He recalled that in 2014, Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi pledged to strengthen the cooperative sector and, for the first time in history, established a dedicated Ministry of Cooperation. Carrying forward the Prime Minister’s vision, the state government has resolved to turn cooperatives into a mass movement.
*State Making Progress in the Cooperative Sector*
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said that Haryana is steadily advancing in the cooperative sector. RuPayKisan Credit Cards have been issued to more than 3,00,000 farmers across the state through 19 District Central Cooperative Banks. Additionally, 21 PACS centers have been selected for the construction of warehouses. He said that no interest is charged on crop loans for members of primary cooperative societies who repay on time. So far, this scheme has provided interest relief amounting to Rs 1,223 crore to 531,652 farmers. HAFED is setting up a mega food park in Rohtak at a cost of approximately Rs 180 crore under the Central Government’s Mega Food Park Scheme. Meanwhile, Sugarfed’s 10 cooperative sugar mills are operating at nearly 93 percent capacity.
*Steps Being Taken to strengthen Cooperative Societies*
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini stated that continuous efforts are underway to strengthen cooperative societies. To modernize the system and make the cooperative sector more transparent and competitive, 710 PACS are being computerized, of which 475 have already been converted into e-PACS. Model bylaws for PACS have also been developed. He added that the world’s largest grain storage scheme has been launched, under which large warehouses are being constructed by cooperative societies in every block across the country. Farmer Producer Organizations are also being given renewed momentum by linking them with these cooperative institutions. The Chief Minister urged the people to pledge to make the spirit of cooperation an integral part of their lives. We will work together and support each other to make Haryana the most prosperous, happy, and cooperation-oriented state in the country, he said.
Earlier, Chief Minister inaugurated the program by hoisting the cooperative flag and later inspected various stalls set up near the venue.
*Haryana to connect every household with Cooperatives under the leadership of the Chief Minister – Dr. Arvind Sharma*
Cooperation Minister Dr. Arvind Sharma said that the tradition of working together has long existed in villages and communities, and this spirit forms the foundation of cooperation. He said that when Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi established the Ministry of Cooperation in 2021, he pledged to connect every household with the cooperative movement. To achieve this objective, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Sh Amit Shah introduced a new cooperative policy and laid the foundation for the country’s first cooperative university. He added that Haryana, under the leadership of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, is working diligently to connect every household with cooperatives. He emphasized that the digitization of PACS has brought greater transparency to the system. Today, PACS are not only functioning as lending institutions but are also providing opportunities for youth, farmers, and women to become self-reliant through 25 different types of projects. He further stated that under the Chief Minister’s guidance, Haryana will play a key role in fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed and self-reliant India by 2047.
Speaking on this occasion, ACS Cooperatiion Department, Vijayendra Kumar presented the department’s achievements before the Chief Minister. He said that cooperation is a mass movement capable of bringing economic prosperity to everyone’s lives. At present, cooperative societies are engaged in a wide range of activities, including lending, milk production, and marketing.
*Chief Minister enjoys Gohana Jalebi to celebrate Bihar Election Victory*
To celebrate the BJP’s victory in the Bihar elections during the event, Cooperation Minister Dr. Arvind Sharma congratulated the Chief Minister on the party’s success. To celebrate the occasion, the Minister arranged for Gohana jalebi, which he served to the Chief Minister and other guests midway through the event.
MLA Nikhil Madan, Pawan Kharkhoda, Sonipat Municipal Corporation Mayor Rajiv Jain, BJP State President Mohan Lal Badoli, Sonipat Metropolitan Development Authority CEO A. Mona Sriniwas, and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.
