The Rajasthan Government will shortly issue credit cards through the cooperative banks to 1 lakh farmers across the State to enable them to get the benefits of various schemes for their agricultural activities. The Cooperative Department has allocated targets for the task to various banks.
State Principal Cooperative Secretary Chandra Mohan Meena said at a video-conference meeting here on Tuesday that in addition to the distribution of credit cards, priority would be given to farmers who have recently entered the field in the disbursement of agricultural loans for this year’s rabi crops.
“All the needy farmers should be associated with the cooperative activities and credit limits of new members of cooperative societies fixed forthwith,” said Mr. Meena while addressing the officers of his department.
An official release issued here quoted Mr. Meena as saying that the availability of more financial resources to the cooperative credit societies following the implementation of the Vaidyanathan Committee’s report would “directly benefit the farmers”. He pointed out that the NREGA accounts were being successfully managed by the cooperative mini-banks.
The Principal Secretary emphasised the need for connecting the cooperative sector with various consumer services for the benefit of residents of remote villages.
Registrar of Cooperative Societies Mukesh Sharma said the “Uphaar” mini-supermarkets would start functioning in the rural areas across the State by this year-end. He said efforts should be made for getting land allocated for cooperative institutions at village panchayats to create their permanent infrastructure.
