New Delhi,02 June (CNI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the Union government is spending ₹6.5 lakh crore every year for the agriculture sector and farmers’ welfare, and urged the cooperatives to help in making India self-reliant in edible oils.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the 17th Indian Cooperative Congress at the International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC), in Delhi, on the occasion of International Day of Cooperatives, PM Modi said that the cooperatives are being provided the facilities like that of corporate sector.
Speaking here, the PM said that dairy, sugar and many other sectors have grown because of the cooperative sector. The Prime Minister said that his government, for the first time, made the ministry of the cooperative sector and assure a separate budget for it. PM Modi said that tax rates were lowered to benefit the cooperative sector.
Earlier Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the 17th Indian Cooperative Congress at International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC), in Delhi.
On the occasion, PM Modi called for complete digitisation in the cooperative industry and asked the industry people to contribute into the ‘Make In India’ campaign. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “The government has promoted Digital India, enabling direct benefits to reach beneficiaries directly. The aim is also to eliminate the dependency on cash transactions. India’s dominance in Digital Transactions has become our identity in the world. This needs to be incorporated in our Cooperative sector as well”
The PM said, “Now, crores of small farmers are receiving benefits under the PM-KISAN scheme without any interference from middlemen. In the last 4 years, a direct transfer of Rs 2.5 lakh crore has been made into the bank accounts of farmers under this scheme”
“We have moved from less than Rs 90,000 crore spent in 5 years for the agriculture sector before 2014 to having a single scheme, PM KISAN Samman Nidhi that is spending 3 times the amount,” he added.
“Milk powder to butter to ghee, our Indian produce is in demand in the world. A new market is being formed for our millets. Our Shree Anna can be a great opportunity to earn for our small farmers,” the PM said while speaking on dairy and other cooperative industries in the country.
Notably, the 17th Indian Cooperative Congress is being organised on 1-2 July, 2023 and its objective is to discuss various trends in cooperative movement, showcase best practices being adopted, deliberate challenges being faced and chalk out future policy direction for growth of India’s cooperative movement.
“There will be seven technical sessions on the main theme of “Amrit Kaal : Prosperity through Cooperation for a Vibrant India”. It will witness participation of more than 3600 stakeholders including cooperatives from primary level to national level, delegates of International Cooperative Organisations, representatives of International Cooperative Alliance, representatives of Ministries, Universities, eminent institutions, among others,” a PMO release said.
