CM inaugurates 72nd State-Level Cooperative Week 2025 in Sonipat
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini inaugurated the 72nd State-Level Cooperative Week in Sonipat on Friday. Addressing the gathering, he said that the soul of India resides in its villages and that the path to progress lies through cooperation. He said that this year is being celebrated as the Year of Cooperatives, and the event will play a key role in achieving the vision of prosperity through cooperation and self-reliance. The Chief Minister urged the youth to shed traditional mindsets, form cooperatives, and transform them into global brands through the power of Digital India.
The Chief Minister said that we must remember the millions of people who, through their small savings and collective strength, built a robust cooperative movement. Today, India is the world’s fourth-largest economy and is rapidly moving toward becoming the third largest. Cooperatives, he said, are vital to achieving this goal. He recalled that in 2014, Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi pledged to strengthen the cooperative sector and, for the first time in history, established a dedicated Ministry of Cooperation. Carrying forward the Prime Minister’s vision, the state government has resolved to turn cooperatives into a mass movement.
Saini said that Haryana is steadily advancing in the cooperative sector. RuPay Kisan Credit Cards have been issued to more than 3,00,000 farmers across the state through 19 District Central Cooperative Banks. Additionally, 21 PACS centers have been selected for the construction of warehouses. He said that no interest is charged on crop loans for members of primary cooperative societies who repay on time. So far, this scheme has provided interest relief amounting to Rs 1,223 crore to 531,652 farmers. HAFED is setting up a mega food park in Rohtak at a cost of approximately Rs 180 crore under the Central Government’s Mega Food Park Scheme. Meanwhile, Sugarfed’s 10 cooperative sugar mills are operating at nearly 93 percent capacity.
Steps Being Taken to strengthen Cooperative Societies
Saini stated that continuous efforts are underway to strengthen cooperative societies. To modernize the system and make the cooperative sector more transparent and competitive, 710 PACS are being computerized, of which 475 have already been converted into e-PACS. Model bylaws for PACS have also been developed. He added that the world’s largest grain storage scheme has been launched, under which large warehouses are being constructed by cooperative societies in every block across the country. Farmer Producer Organizations are also being given renewed momentum by linking them with these cooperative institutions. The Chief Minister urged the people to pledge to make the spirit of cooperation an integral part of their lives. We will work together and support each other to make Haryana the most prosperous, happy, and cooperation-oriented state in the country, he said.
Earlier, Chief Minister inaugurated the program by hoisting the cooperative flag and later inspected various stalls set up near the venue.
CM enjoys Gohana Jalebi to celebrate Bihar Election Victory
To celebrate the BJP’s victory in the Bihar elections during the event, Cooperation Minister Dr. Arvind Sharma congratulated the Chief Minister on the party’s success. To celebrate the occasion, the Minister arranged for Gohana jalebi, which he served to the Chief Minister and other guests midway through the event.