Advocating the vanguard role of Cooperative Societies for boosting Agri exports, Special Chief Secretary and Financial Commissioner Cooperation Mr. VK Singh on Thursday said that it is the need of hour to transform the destiny of farmers by giving a major push to the rural economy. Addressing the gathering after inaugurating 71st All India Cooperative Week here today, the Special Chief Secretary said that the Cooperative sector has the onus to bolster the rural economy through Agri Food exports after value edition through Self Help Groups.
He said that the Punjab government led by the Chief Minister Mr. Bhagwant Singh Mann is already laying major thrust to strengthen the cooperative sector in the state. Mr. VK Singh unequivocally said that Cooperative sector is the lifeline of the country, which has played a pivotal role in the socio-economic development of the country in the post-independence era.
The Special Chief Secretary said that the cooperative sector has to play a pivotal role in bringing farmers out of the rut of the wheat/ paddy cycle and encouraging them for selling their products through value addition. He said that there is a huge potential for value added products of the farmers especially in the markets like Delhi whereas spurious goods were being sold.
Mr VK Singh said that the Cooperative sector must embrace this challenge to benefit the farmers in a big way so that their income can be supplemented in a big way. The Special Chief Secretary also said that cooperative sector cannot work in isolation adding that for welfare of farmers various departments like agriculture, horticulture and others can work in unison with each other.
He said that it will go a long way in heralding a new era of unprecedented development and prosperity for the farmers. Mr VK Singh said that this will go a long way in augmenting the income of the farmers on one hand and ensuring supply of quality food to the consumers one the other.
The Special Chief Secretary said that Cooperative movement in India has immensely benefited all the sections of society particularly the farming community, who had played a crucial role in making the country self-reliant in food production. He said that the need of the hour is to give further fillip to the Cooperative movement by celebrating such functions with great enthusiasm so as to elicit maximum participation of the people.
Mr. VK Singh said that it is a high time when our Cooperative sector should come forward and play a crucial role in giving a much needed push to the rural economy. The Special Chief Secretary said that it is imperative for comprehensive development of the rural areas and the progress of people.
On the occasion, he envisioned that the weeklong celebrations of National Cooperative Week will certainly go a long way in motivating the millions of people across the villages of the state to be a part of this glorious cooperative movement to ultimately achieve the goal of sustainable and inclusive growth.
Mr. VK Singh also underscored the need to give further fillip to the Cooperative movement by organising such functions with great enthusiasm so as to elicit maximum participation of the people at grass root level. The Special Chief Secretary said that the motive of this function is also to sensitise the officers associated with the cooperation movement to perform their duty zealously.
He said that the officers must realise one thing that the bright future of Punjab will emerge out of the cooperative sector for which the officers have a huge role to play. Mr VK Singh said that the officers should ensure that the movement is strengthen at ground level so that it produces desired results in coming times.
Earlier, Secretary Cooperation Ms. Anindita Mitra welcomed the dignitaries on the occasion and said that the cooperative sector is essential for the holistic growth of the country. Extending words of gratitude towards Special Chief Secretary VK Singh, she recalled his immense contribution in strengthening the cooperative sector at grassroots level.
Ms. Anindita Mitra underscored the need for three Es viz. Education, Equality and Engagement for further expansion and consolidation of the cooperative sector. Meanwhile, Registrar Cooperative Societies Punjab and Director Information & Public Relations Mr. Vimal Kumar Setia shared a glimpse about the various initiatives being taken in the Cooperative Sector.
All the dignitaries unveiled the book on Cooperation penned by Cooperative Officer Mr. Jasbir Singh. Prominent amongst others present on the occasion included Secretary Cooperative Societies Ms. Ritu Aggarwal, MD Markfed Mr. Girish Dayalan, MD Sugarfed Ms. Senu Duggal, MD Milkfed Mr Rahul Gupta and others.