At the nine-day cooperative fair held at Awas Vikas Maidan in Srinagar, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami applauded the efforts of farmers and Ms. self‑help groups for bringing local products to market and strengthening grassroots economies. He said cooperatives are not just vehicles of rural progress and women’s empowerment, they are the very foundation of a self-reliant society. Highlighting 2025 as the “World Cooperative Year,” he added that India’s new Ministry of Cooperatives reflects the national commitment to this sector.
Digital Reforms & Price Support Boost Farmer Confidence
CM Dhami shared that the state has completed computerization of 671 cooperative societies, and records of 3,838 societies across 13 districts have been published on the National Cooperative Portal. He also noted a rise of Rs. 5.50 per kg in the purchase price of mandua, now procured at the minimum support price of Rs. 48.86 per kg. The state provides interest-free loans up to Rs. 3 lakh to farmers under the Deendayal Upadhyay Kisan Kalyan Yojana, and up to Rs. 5 lakh to women self‑help groups. Cooperative bank capital in Uttarakhand has swelled to Rs. 16,000 crore—evidence of growing public trust in the sector, he added.
Self‑Help Groups Drive Business & Employment
The “Lakhpati Didi” campaign is gaining traction, Mr. Dhami said, with women creating commercial success through quality local goods. During the fair, these groups did business worth approximately Rs. 35 lakh, and the total generated trade crossed Rs. 1 crore in Srinagar alone. To further support entrepreneurial activity, the government distributed cheques to groups engaged in horticulture, poultry, cow rearing and Dona‑Pattal crafts. Autonomous cooperatives also received support for agricultural machinery under the SMAM scheme, and innovators were honored for advances in mushroom (gucchi) production.
In a boost to job creation, 1,500 LT teachers will receive appointment letters the following day, taking total state employment to over 25,500 in the education sector.
Crackdown, Infrastructure & Governance Gains
The Chief Minister said the state’s hard stance against counterfeiting, land mafias, and governance lapses is restoring public confidence. He assured that Srinagar would soon receive a dedicated sewerage and drinking water upgrade once the Detailed Project Report is cleared, promising a continuous 15‑hour water supply. He also noted that Uttarakhand became the first state in India to implement a Uniform Civil Code, and has enacted the nation’s strictest anti‑counterfeiting law—already incarcerating over 100 offenders.
Cooperative Platform to Strengthen Community & Economy
Cooperation Minister Mr. Dhan Singh Rawat told the gathering that 31 lakh people in the state are now members of cooperatives, with a new target of 50 lakh. Cooperatives have extended zero-interest loans to 16 lakh farmers already. He added the cooperative sector is generating a profit of Rs. 30 crore today, and income opportunities for women are steadily rising under the Lakhpati Didi scheme.
The fair became more than an exhibition—it emerged as a vibrant marketplace, an incubator of rural entrepreneurship, and a symbol of cooperative India. CM Dhami’s message was clear: cooperatives aren’t just a rural scheme—they are central to social renewal, economic inclusion, and sustainable development across Uttarakhand.
