Srinagar, Dec 19: The Jammu and Kashmir Government took a significant step on Tuesday by establishing the Union Territory Level Cooperative Development Committee (UTLCDC) and District Level Cooperative Development Committees (DLCDCs).
The Jammu and Kashmir Government accorded to the constitution of Union territory Level Cooperative Development Committee (UTCDC) and District Level Cooperative Development Committee(s) (DL.CDCs), headed by Chief Secretary, for implementation of plan for strengthening cooperative movement and deepening its reach in Union territory.
The UT Level Cooperative Development Committee will be headed by Chief Secretary, J&K, while Administrative Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, Administrative Secretary, Finance Department, Administrative Secretary. Department of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Administrative Secretary, Cooperative Department will be members of the committee along with 10 representatives from other departments as well.
These committees are aimed to implement a comprehensive plan to fortify the cooperative movement and enhance its footprint in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The UTLCDC, chaired by the Chief Secretary, J&K, comprises members such as the Administrative Secretary of Agriculture Production, Finance, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, and Cooperative Departments. Additionally, ten representatives from various departments will contribute to the committee’s efforts.
The primary objective is to ensure the coverage of all Panchayats/Villages in the UT through multipurpose PACS or primary dairy/fishery cooperative societies. The committee will review district-wise action plans for establishing new societies, with a goal of creating two lakh such societies nationwide over the next five years.
The committee will play a vital role in supporting the preparation and maintenance of the National Cooperative Database. It will collaborate with organisations like NABARD, NDDB, NEDB, NAFSCOB, NCDFI & FISHCOPED to establish UT/District-level federations where necessary.
Furthermore, the committee will assist in creating linkages between existing and new cooperative societies and respective District Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) or State Cooperative Banks (SCBs).
The key focus of the committee is to ensure the convergence of government schemes at the grassroots level, making cooperative societies economically vibrant. It will provide policy support for infrastructure development, including the allocation of government land to PACS.
Additionally, the committee will extend support to District Cooperative Development Committees (DCDC) for grassroots implementation and monitor the overall progress of the action plan at the UT level.
At the district level, the District Level Cooperative Development Committees, headed by the Deputy Commissioners, will consist of 20 members from various departments. Their responsibilities include updating the National Cooperative Database regularly, preparing district plans based on gap analysis, establishing linkages with existing and new cooperative societies, facilitating the registration of new societies, and coordinating with stakeholders for effective plan implementation.
The order also specifies the inclusion of specific individuals, such as Neerupal Yadav from the Warehouse Development Regulatory Authority of India, as a member of the District Level Cooperative Development Committee for District Kathua.
Deputy Registrars from Command Area Development, Jammu, and Kathua will be members of the District Level Cooperative Development Committee for their respective districts. This collaborative effort at both the UT and district levels reflects a comprehensive strategy to strengthen the cooperative movement in Jammu and Kashmir.
