Process for plan implementation set in motion
All Panchayats to be covered by multipurpose PACS
RATTAN SHARMA
JAMMU: For expansion of the Cooperative sector and connecting more farmers with Primary Agriculture Cooperative Society, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir is all set to strengthen cooperative movement across the Union Territory as the process of its implementation has been set in motion.
As establishment of Primary Agriculture Cooperative Society (PACS) in every Panchayat is the government’s prime objective, the Union Territory administration’s efforts shall strengthen the cooperative sector to accelerate the grassroot development, official sources said adding that all the Panchayats/ Villages in the UT shall be covered by multipurpose PACS or Primary Dairy/ Fishery Cooperative Societies.
With a total target of establishing two lakh such societies in the next five years across the country, the District-wise action plan for setting up new multipurpose PACS or Primary Dairy Fishery Cooperative Societies is also under process.
For plan implementation, constitution of Union Territory Level Cooperative Development Committee (UTLCDC) and District Level Cooperative Development Committee(s) (DLCDCs) have been ordered by the UT Government mentioning the terms of References.
“We have taken several steps to ensure effective on-ground implementation of rural development schemes and to empower the targeted sections. Resource availability for growth of cooperatives is another area where steps have been taken to ensure credit access to people and support services for equitable distribution of benefits,” official sources informed.
All necessary support shall be extended in preparation and updation of National Cooperative Database besides preparing an action plan, in coordination with NABARD, NDDB, NFDB, NAFSCOB, NCDFI & FISHCOPED to set up UT/ District level Federations if not presently existent as per requirement and viability assessment.
Moreover, linkages of existing and new Primary Cooperative Societies shall be established with DCCBs/ StCBs and/ or their respective District and UT level Federations.
Convergence of various schemes of Government of India at the level of PACS or Dairy/ Fishery Primary Cooperative Societies shall be ensured to make them vibrant economic entities besides providing all necessary policy support for creation of infrastructure at the level of cooperative societies, including allotment of Government/ Gram Sabha land to PACS.
The Union Territory Level Cooperative Development Committee shall extend all necessary support to District Cooperative Development Committee (DCDC) for implementation of the plan at the grassroots level besides monitoring the progress of implementation of the action plan at the UT level.
The UT Level Cooperative Development Committee include Chief Secretary as its Chairman; Administrative Secretary Agriculture Production Department, Administrative Secretary Finance Department and Administrative Secretary Department of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj as Members, Administrative Secretary Cooperative Department as Convener besides Administrative Secretary Revenue Department, Registrar of Cooperative Societies J&K, Chief General Manager NABARD J&K; Convener J&K Lead Bank (UTLBC), Representative from National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), Representative from National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), Representative from National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Chairman/ Managing Director of State Cooperative Bank, Chairman/ Managing Director of State Federation of Dairy Cooperative Societies, Chairman/ Managing Director of State Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Societies and any other Co-opted as Members.
The District Level Cooperative Development Committees have also been constituted which include Deputy Commissioner as its Chairman, Additional District Development Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner Panchayat and Assistant Commissioner Revenue as Members, Deputy Registrar Cooperative Societies as Convener; besides Chief Animal Husbandry Officer, District Sheep Husbandry Officer, Assistant Director Fisheries, Managing Director DCCB/ StCB, District Lead Bank Manager, District Development Manager, NABARD, Representative of National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), Representative of National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Representative of J8&K Dairy/Fisheries Cooperative Federation, Any other Co-opted as Members.
District Level Cooperative Development Committee has been asked to ensure regular and timely updation of National Cooperative Database; to prepare the District Plan for setting up of new multipurpose PACS or primary dairy/ fishery cooperative societies on the basis of the gap analysis from National Cooperative Database; to ensure that all the Panchayats/ villages in the district are covered by multipurpose PACS or primary dairy/ fishery cooperative societies, as the case may be; to establish linkages of existing and new primary cooperative societies with DCCBs/ StCBs and/ or their respective District/ Block level Federations, if any, with the support of UT Government and other stakeholders concerned.
If District/ Block level Federations are not existent, then linkages may be established with the Federations present in nearby District/ Block.
The Committee is also meant to facilitate setting up of District level federations, if not presently existent, as per requirement and viability assessment, in coordination with UT Government and stakeholders concerned; to facilitate registration of new primary cooperative societies with the support of Registrar of Cooperative Societies; to ensure dovetailing of various schemes of Government of India at the level of PACS or primary dairy/ fishery cooperative societies with the support of Registrar of Cooperative Societies; to provide all necessary infrastructure and logistical support to primary cooperative societies at the Panchayats/ village level, including allotment of Government/ Gram Sabha land to PACS; to coordinate with all stakeholders concerned and provide all necessary support for ensuring implementation of the plan at the ground level or any other related matters.
It is further ordered that the Cooperative Department shall be the Nodal Department for coordinating the overall implementation of the said plan.
In this regard, a Government Order has been issued today by Sanjeev Verma, Commissioner/Secretary General Administration Department.
Constitution of Union Territory Level Cooperative Development Committee and District Level Cooperative Development Committee(s) have been accorded sanction for implementation plan for strengthening cooperative movement and deepening its reach in Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.