Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the Youth Cooperative Conference and UP Co-operative Expo-2025 under the International Year of Cooperatives 2025 at the Jupiter Hall of the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan on Sunday. The event highlighted the achievements and innovations of the state’s cooperative sector, showcasing its role in empowering youth and promoting inclusive development.
During the event, a short film on the accomplishments and innovations of the Cooperation Department was screened. The Chief Minister, along with former Union Minister Suresh Prabhu, also released a special booklet documenting the state’s cooperative initiatives and milestones.
Recognition of Outstanding District Officials
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath honoured officials for their exemplary work in promoting cooperative development in their districts. Satyendra Kumar, the current District Magistrate of Varanasi, was recognised for his significant contribution to overall cooperative development and guidance in Varanasi, Maharajganj, and Barabanki districts.
Similarly, Santosh Kumar Sharma, District Magistrate of Maharajganj, received accolades for his role in the M-PACS Membership Drive 2025, having achieved the highest number of 1.22 lakh members in the state and adding 28,000 online members, setting a benchmark for other districts.
Chief Minister Distributes Loans to Youth Entrepreneurs
In a major initiative to promote employment and entrepreneurship, the Chief Minister distributed loan cheques under the CM Yuva Udemy (Youth Entrepreneur) Scheme through UP State Co-operative Bank Ltd.
- Ajay Pratap Singh and Danishta Fatima received INR 5 lakh each to start their ventures.
- Under the CM Youth Self-Employment Scheme, Sonam Verma and Manish Kumar Bhadouria received INR 25 lakh each, while Aakansha Singh received INR 10 lakh.
The distribution aims to inspire young entrepreneurs to create employment opportunities and contribute to the state’s economic growth.
Recognition of Districts and Individuals for Cooperative Achievements
Outstanding performers under various cooperative initiatives were also honoured:
- Vandana Tiwari and Lalita Devi received awards for their excellent performance under the NaMo Drone Didi initiative.
- Districts with the highest M-PACS membership growth were recognised:
- Maharajganj: Jitendra Bahadur Singh, UP State Co-operative Bank Ltd., and Sunil Kumar Gupta AR – 1.22 lakh members
- Shahjahanpur: District Co-operative Bank Chairman Dharmendra Pratap Singh Rathore and Assistant Commissioner Akhilesh Pratap Singh – 1.08 lakh members
- Unnao: District Co-operative Bank Chairman Arun Singh and Assistant Commissioner Ravindra Kumar Singh – over 1.02 lakh members
- Maharajganj: Jitendra Bahadur Singh, UP State Co-operative Bank Ltd., and Sunil Kumar Gupta AR – 1.22 lakh members
District Co-operative Banks Recognised for Highest Deposits
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also honoured district co-operative banks that collected the highest deposits under the M-PACS Membership Drive 2025:
- Meerut: Vimal Kumar Sharma (Bank Chairman) and Vinay Singh (Secretary) – over INR 125 crore
- Ghaziabad: Krishna Veer Singh (Bank Chairman) and Sandeep Singh (Secretary) – INR 65.48 crore
- Lakhimpur Kheri: Vineet Manar Patel (Bank Chairman) and Sudhanshu Choudhary (Secretary)
The event highlighted the pivotal role of co-operative institutions in mobilising resources, empowering communities, and fostering economic growth across the state.
Driving Youth Empowerment and Cooperative Growth
The Youth Cooperative Conference and UP Co-operative Expo-2025 underscored the government’s commitment to promoting youth entrepreneurship, cooperative development, and financial inclusion. Through recognition of outstanding officials, successful districts, and exemplary entrepreneurs, the event set a benchmark for cooperative excellence, innovation, and social impact across Uttar Pradesh.
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