PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The National Council for Cooperative Training (NCCT) secretary Meenu Shukla Pathak reviewed the progress of various cooperative schemes in Uttarakhand during a meeting with Cooperation department officials here on Friday. She directed officials to expedite the strengthening of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and ensure timely expansion of cooperative services. The progress on Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Kendras, PACS computerisation, Common Service Centre (CSC) services, fisheries cooperatives and newly formed Multi-Purpose Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (MPACS) was reviewed at the meeting.
Officials informed Pathak that 326 PACS and 84 sub-centres had been converted into Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Kendras in the first phase, while 21 PACS had been converted in the second phase. They have also sought the conversion of an additional 190 PACS, the secretary was informed. Pathak directed them to expedite the process.
Reviewing CSC services, the officials said that only 300 of the 670 PACS were currently operational as CSC centres. She directed officials to activate the remaining societies and achieve the 100 per cent target. She also stressed providing State government e-services through PACS to improve access for rural residents and increase the income of societies.
On PACS computerisation, she emphasised regular e-audits, resolving internet connectivity issues and uploading land records of societies on the portal. She also directed officials to speed up the development of fisheries cooperative societies into Fisheries Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs) under PM-MKSSY.
The meeting also discussed training cooperative society secretaries, accountants and management committee members on rules, computerisation and auditing. Training requirements will be assessed in December, with programmes to be organised in collaboration with ICM and NABARD.
Pathak further directed the officials to assess the functioning of newly formed MPACS and provide handholding support through NABARD to eligible societies to make them operational and financially self-reliant.
Additional registrars Ira Upreti and Anand Shukla and joint registrars Neeraj Belwal and M P Tripathi, along with other officials, were present.
