Gujarat govt recognises role of cooperative societies in development of nation
Gujarat's Cooperative Success: Amul, Farmers, and Government Initiatives
In Gujarat, the celebration of Rashtriya Sahakar Saptah highlights the importance of cooperative activities in the state's development. Amul, a leading cooperative, is recognized globally for its excellence. With 1.71 crore members, Gujarat has over 89,000 cooperative institutions. The first cooperative society in India was established in Vadodara in 1889. Today, one in every four Gujaratis is part of a cooperative society.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a Ministry of Cooperation was established in 2021, with Amit Shah as the first Minister. This led to significant changes in the cooperative sector. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Cooperation Minister Jagdish Vishwakarma have extended various benefits to members over the last three years.
Farmers in Gujarat receive crop loans at zero percent interest, thanks to contributions from both the Central and State Governments. Over 48 lakh farmers have benefited from Rs3,056 crore in interest subsidies. Livestock farmers and fishermen also receive interest subsidies on loans. To improve grain storage, farmers are offered a 25% capital subsidy for warehouse construction.
The government supports skill development with an annual grant of Rs2.5 crore, training over 3.57 lakh members. Market committees receive assistance for infrastructure development under the "Kisan Kalpavriksh Yojana." The state has also launched the e-Cooperative portal for digital registration and data management.
Legal reforms require cooperatives to use e-tendering for large purchases. Cooperative societies now offer dividends up to 20% to members. Reforms in market law and cooperative law have been introduced to improve governance and address issues like transfer fees in housing societies.
Doubts Revealed
Rashtriya Sahakar Saptah
Rashtriya Sahakar Saptah is a week-long celebration in India to recognize and promote the importance of cooperative societies in the country's development.
Cooperatives
Cooperatives are organizations owned and run by a group of people who work together for a common goal, like farmers working together to sell their products.
Amul
Amul is a famous dairy cooperative in India, known for producing milk and milk products. It started in Gujarat and is a great example of how cooperatives can help farmers.
Ministry of Cooperation
The Ministry of Cooperation is a part of the Indian government created to support and improve cooperative societies across the country.
Zero-interest loans
Zero-interest loans are loans given to people, like farmers, where they don't have to pay any extra money as interest, making it easier for them to borrow money.
Skill development
Skill development refers to programs and training that help people learn new skills or improve existing ones, making them better at their jobs.
Legal reforms
Legal reforms are changes made to laws to improve them or make them more effective, often to help organizations like cooperatives work better.
Digital initiatives
Digital initiatives are projects that use technology, like computers and the internet, to make processes faster and more efficient.
Dividends
Dividends are a share of the profits that a cooperative or company gives to its members or shareholders, as a reward for their investment or participation.
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