<!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","className":""} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Detailed Discussion on Chhattisgarh's Cooperative Achievements and Demands</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p><strong>Raipur</strong> : Chhattisgarh's <strong>Cooperation Minister Kedar Kashyap</strong> met <strong>Union Minister of State for Cooperation, Murli Dhar Mohol, in Delhi</strong> today. The meeting was attended by <strong>Subrat Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary (Cooperation), Kuldeep Sharma, Commissioner & Registrar of Cooperative Societies, and representatives from the Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India</strong>. The discussion focused on <strong>Chhattisgarh's achievements, challenges, and demands in the cooperative sector</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p>Minister Kashyap briefed <strong>Union Minister Mohol</strong> about the <strong>initiatives taken under Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai’s leadership to strengthen the cooperative movement in Chhattisgarh</strong>. He highlighted the state’s efforts to align with <strong>Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Prosperity through Cooperation.”</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p>He stated that <strong>2,028 PACS (Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies) have been selected for modernization</strong>, and a request was made for <strong>approval of 30 additional PACS and 500 new proposed PACS</strong>. The <strong>state government had set a target of disbursing ₹8,500 crore in short-term agricultural loans</strong>, of which <strong>₹7,709 crore has already been disbursed</strong>. However, NABARD has provided only <strong>₹1,150 crore in concessional refinancing, which accounts for just 14.9% of the total loan amount</strong>. The state has requested <strong>an increase in this proportion to 45%</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p>The minister also urged the <strong>central government to relax the monthly sugar sale quota system</strong>, allowing <strong>higher sales to facilitate faster payments to sugarcane farmers</strong>. He requested a <strong>waiver of ₹84.79 lakh in delayed interest on a term loan taken by the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Cooperative Sugar Factory, Pandariya</strong>. Additionally, he sought <strong>Chhattisgarh’s inclusion in exposure visits during the International Year of Cooperatives 2025</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p>The <strong>Chhattisgarh government has launched several initiatives</strong> to boost economic development in <strong>rural and tribal areas through cooperatives</strong>. Under the <strong>Dairy Cooperative Scheme for Tribal Families</strong>, <strong>650 milch cattle will be distributed to 325 families across six districts</strong>. The <strong>state is also constructing 725 warehouses under NABARD’s RIDF scheme</strong>, of which <strong>665 have been completed</strong>. Furthermore, <strong>28 PACS have been designated for Jan Aushadhi Kendras (affordable medicine centers), with 25 recently established</strong>. In <strong>2,029 PACS, Common Service Centers have been set up, with 1,103 newly operationalized</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p>Minister Kashyap emphasized that <strong>the state is promoting organic farming and cooperative marketing of forest products</strong>. The <strong>Chhattisgarh State Cooperative Minor Forest Produce Federation has obtained organic certification for 22 minor forest products</strong>. All <strong>PACS in Chhattisgarh have been registered on the NCCF portal</strong>, and <strong>micro-ATMs have been installed</strong> to facilitate transactions, including <strong>₹116 crore worth of paddy procurement payments</strong>. Over the past six months, <strong>2.5 lakh farmers have received Kisan Credit Cards (KCCs)</strong>. Additionally, <strong>PM Kisan Samriddhi Kendras have been set up in all PACS</strong>, facilitating transactions worth <strong>₹1,760.34 crore</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p>Minister Kedar Kashyap urged <strong>Union Minister Murli Dhar Mohol</strong> to support <strong>Chhattisgarh’s cooperative sector demands</strong>, stating that <strong>several schemes are successfully driving agricultural, rural development, and economic empowerment in the state</strong>. He added that <strong>with the expected cooperation from the central government, these initiatives could be implemented even more effectively</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->