Parliament Question: Schemes for Cooperatives

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COOPERATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3847 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12th AUGUST 2025 Schemes for Cooperatives 3847. Shri Anup Sanjay Dhotre: Will the Minister of COOPERATION (सहकारिता मंत्री) be pleased to state: (a) the key features and the benefits of the schemes being run by the Government to promote cooperatives and the manner they impacted the cooperative sector so far; (b) the new schemes that are proposed to be launched to further promote and strengthen the cooperative sector and what are their expected outcomes; and (c) the manner the Government plan to enhance the effectiveness and reach of existing schemes and the measures being taken to address any challenges or gaps in the current framework? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF COOPERATION सहकारिता मंत्री (SHRI AMIT SHAH) (a): The key features and the benefits of the schemes being run by the Government to promote cooperatives and the manner they impacted the cooperative sector so far, are given at Annexure. The initiatives undertaken by the Ministry are aimed at enhancing transparency, improving operational efficiency and accountability of cooperative institutions; promoting cooperation among cooperatives; increasing engagement of youth and women in cooperative activities; expanding the reach and effectiveness of existing schemes; and reinforcing cooperative governance mechanisms across the country. (b): The Ministry of Cooperation has recently launched the New National Cooperation Policy, 2025 which aims to create an enabling legal, economic, and institutional framework to strengthen and deepen the cooperative movement at the grassroots level. The policy seeks to facilitate the transformation of cooperative enterprises into professionally managed, transparent, technology-enabled, vibrant, and responsive economic entities that support production by the masses. The Government has also approved the Central Sector Scheme “Grant in aid to National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)” with an outlay of Rs.2000 crore for a period of four years from 2025-26 to 2028- 29 (Rs.500 crore each year from FY 2025-26). On the basis of grant in aid of Rs.2000 crore to NCDC from FY 2025-26 to FY 2028-29, NCDC willbe able to raise Rs.20,000 crore from open market over a span of four years. These funds will be utilized by NCDC for granting loans to Cooperatives for setting up new projects / expansion of plants and loan for meeting the working capital requirements. Further, ‘Tribhuvan’ Sahakari University (TSU) has been established through the Tribhuvan Sahakari University Act, 2025, and has been declared as an Institution of National Importance. It has been created to strengthen the cooperative sector in the country through advanced education, research, and training in cooperative management. Headquartered in Anand, Gujarat, TSU integrates academic excellence with real-world cooperative needs, offering state- of-the-art education and fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and best practices in cooperative governance. The University aims to play a central role in building a skilled workforce for cooperatives at all levels and serve as an apex body for standardizing training, curricula, and pedagogy nationwide. (c): In order to ensure smooth execution of these initiatives / projects and to address any challenges or gaps in the current framework, Ministry of Cooperation has adopted a multilayered approach to monitor the progress of the initiatives / projects at the grassroots level, including the following: i. Inter-Ministerial Committees (IMC) with Hon’ble Cooperation Minister as chairman and Hon’ble Ministers and Secretaries of GoI Ministries/ Departments concerned as members, have been constituted for smooth and effective implementation of the projects –“Strengthening Cooperative Movement in the Country and Deepening its reach up to the Grassroots” & “World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector” which has been rolled out as a Pilot project. ii. National Level Coordination Committee (NLCC) has been constituted under the chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation, GoI and Secretaries of concerned Ministries/Departments of the Government of India, Additional Chief Secretaries/Principal Secretaries/Secretaries of Cooperation Departments of States/UTs, and other stakeholders concerned as members, to steer the overall implementation of the projects. iii. Further, State Cooperative Development Committee (SCDC) has been constituted at the State level under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary and District Cooperative Development Committee (DCDC) has been constituted at the district level under the chairmanship of the District Collectors to ensure effective implementation and monitoring of all the initiatives of Ministry of Cooperation at grassroots level. iv. National Level Monitoring and Implementation Committee (NLMIC), State and District Level Implementation and Monitoring Committees (SLIMC and DLIMC) have been formed to review the PACS Computerization Project. v. In addition to the above, meetings with Secretaries of Ministries/ Departments concerned are held at the level of Secretary (Cooperation) to review progress of the initiatives and to resolve challenges, if any. vi. Further, monthly review meetings are conducted with States/UTs and other stakeholders concerned under chairmanship of Secretary (Cooperation) to review the implementation status of various initiatives. *****