Maharashtra to Revive Cooperative Education Fund: Fadnavis

The Maharashtra government has decided to revive the long-dormant Cooperative Education Fund. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that the fund would be restarted within the next month. The primary objective is to develop skilled human resources for the cooperative sector and to further enhance the effectiveness of the state's strong cooperative system. He stated that in modern times, creating a trained workforce rather than only providing financial assistance is crucial for the success of the cooperative movement.

Speaking at an event organised by the Maharashtra State Co-operative Union, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that the state government would relaunch the Cooperative Education Fund within the next month. Although the fund had been discontinued in the past, it is now being revived with the aim of developing a skilled workforce.

He told that the future of the cooperative movement depends on skilled human resources; therefore, initiatives are being taken to train the younger generation and integrate them into cooperative institutions.

Fadnavis said that there are currently over 2 lakh cooperative societies in Maharashtra, the highest number in the country. He also highlighted the significant role of the cooperative system in agriculture, banking, housing, and rural development. According to the government, this sector will be further strengthened if a skilled workforce and modern management practices are developed.

The Chief Minister also celebrated various initiatives of the Central Government. He noted that the cooperative sector has been accorded renewed importance through the creation of a separate Ministry of Cooperation in 2021. Furthermore, a target has been set to triple the cooperative sector's contribution to the country's GDP over the next two decades through the new National Cooperation Policy.

Fadnavis said that the Centre has already brought approximately 63,000 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) onto a digital platform. The government plans to establish another 2 lakh new PACS over the next five years. Additionally, these cooperative societies have been permitted to engage in 17 types of business activities to diversify their revenue streams and further strengthen the rural economy.

Several new national cooperative societies have been established for the benefit of farmers. These include National Cooperative Exports Limited, National Cooperative Organics Limited, and Bharatiya Beej Sahakari Samiti. Plans are in place to boost the export of agricultural products, promote organic farming, and confirm the supply of high-quality seeds through these organisations.

CM Fadnavis said that the Maharashtra government has created a separate legal framework for cooperative housing societies and implemented a 'Self-Redevelopment Policy'.

As a result of this policy, many housing societies are now able to redevelop their buildings themselves, without relying on private developers. Approximately 1,600 self-redevelopment projects have already been registered.

CM clearly stated that maintaining financial discipline, transparency, and accountability is crucial for the long-term success of cooperative institutions. He announced that a special meeting would be held after the conclusion of the ongoing assembly session to address the various demands and issues facing the cooperative sector.