CS-led panel, DLCDCs to implement plan for strengthening cooperative movement in J&K

Jammu, Dec 19: Chief Secretary-led 16-member panel and District Level Cooperative Development Committees (DLCDCs) will implement the plan for strengthening cooperative movement and deepening its reach in J&K.

The Cooperative department will be the nodal department for coordinating the overall implementation of the plan.

The panel led by the Chief Secretary (CS) has been tasked to ensure that all the Panchayats or villages in the UT are covered by multipurpose Primary Agricultural (Cooperative) Credit Societies (PACS) or primary dairy or fishery cooperative societies, as the case may be. It will also review the district-wise action plan for setting up new multipurpose PACS or primary dairy or fishery cooperative societies,
with a total target of establishing two lakh such societies in the next five years across the country.

Union Territory Level Cooperative Development Committee (UTLCDC) with the Chief Secretary as its chairman and District Level Cooperative Development Committees (DLCDCs) with the concerned Deputy Commissioner as chairman have been constituted in supersession of Government Order No 571-JK(GAD) of 2023 dated May 16, 2023 and Government order No 1222-JK(GAD) of 2023 dated October 10, 2023.

As per the terms of reference, UTLCDC has been mandated to extend all necessary support in preparation and updation of National Cooperative Database; prepare an action plan, in coordination with NABARD, NDDB, NFDB, NAFSCOB, NCDFI and FISHCOPED to set up UT or district level federations if not presently existent as per requirement and viability assessment.

UTLCDC will have Administrative Secretaries of Agriculture Production; Finance; Rural Development and Panchayati Raj and Revenue departments as its members while Administrative Secretary Cooperative department will be its convener. Registrar of Cooperative Societies J&K; Chief General Manager, NABARD, J&K; Convener, J&K Lead Bank (UTLBC); a representative each from National Cooperative Development Corporation, (NCDC); National Dairy Development Board (NDDB); National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB); Chairman or Managing Director of State Cooperative Bank; Chairman or Managing Director of State Federation of Dairy Cooperative Societies; Chairman or Managing Director of State Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Societies will also be the members of this panel besides any other co-opted member.

The mandate of UT level panel is also to assist in establishing linkages of existing and new primary cooperative societies with DCCBs, StCBs and their respective district and UT level Federations; ensure convergence of various schemes of Government of India at the level of PACS or dairy or fishery primary cooperative societies to make them vibrant economic entities; provide all necessary policy support for creation of infrastructure at the level of cooperative societies, including allotment of government or Gram Sabha land to PACS.

This panel will also extend all necessary support to the District Cooperative Development Committee (DCDC) for implementation of the plan at the grassroots level and monitor the progress of implementation of the action plan at the UT level.

DLCDC will comprise Additional District Development Commissioner; Assistant Commissioners of Panchayat, Revenue; Chief Agriculture Officer; Chief Animal Husbandry Officer; District Sheep Husbandry Officer; Assistant Director, Fisheries; Assistant Director or District Officer, Handloom; Assistant Director orDistrict Officer, Handicraft; Assistant Executive Officer or District Officer, KVIB; Area Marketing Officer or District Officer, Horticulture (Planning & Marketing); Managing Director DCCU/ StCB; District Lead Bank Manager; District Development Manager, NABARD and a representative each of National Dairy Development Board (NDDB); National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB); J&K Dairy or Fisheries Cooperative Federation as its members besides any other co-opted member.

Deputy Registrar Cooperative Societies will be the convener of DLCDC.

The terms of reference for DLCDC will almost be the same as that UTLCDC, yet within the district.

Besides, it (DLCDC) will 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.

Registration of new primary cooperative societies with the support of Registrar of Cooperative Societies; dovetailing of various schemes of Government of India at the level of PACS or primary dairy or 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 or village level, including allotment of government or Gram Sabha land to PACS will also be its mandate.

Neerupal Yadav, Deputy Director (SA&O), nominated by Ware House Development Regulatory Authority of India will also be a member of District Level Cooperative Development Committee in respect of district Kathua. Besides, Deputy Registrar, Command Area Development, Jammu and Kathua will also be the members of District Level Cooperative Development Committee for district Jammu and Kathua.