Cabinet approves plan to set up 2 lakh PACS, dairy, fishery cooperatives in next 5 years

The plan, mooted by the Ministry of Cooperation, is aimed at “strengthening cooperative movement in the country and deepening its reach up to the grassroots”.

The Cabinet also approved the constitution of a “high level Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC)” headed by Minister of Home and Cooperation Amit Shah to oversee the rollout of the plan.

According to an official statement, the Cooperation Ministry formulated a plan to establish viable PACS, dairy and fishery cooperatives in villages, and strengthen the existing ones through convergence of various schemes of the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying by leveraging the ‘whole-of-government’ approach.

“Initially, 2 lakh PACS, dairy, fishery cooperatives will be established in the next five years. The action plan for implementation of the project shall be prepared by NABARD, National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and National Fishery Development Board (NFDB),” the statement said.

As per the statement, four schemes have been identified for convergence to enable formation of 2 lakh PACS, dairy and fishery cooperatives. These four schemes are—National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD), and Dairy Processing & Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF) under the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying; and Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), and Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development (FIDF) under the Department of Fisheries.

To oversee the smooth rollout of the plan to establish cooperatives, the government has also approved a high-level committee.

“A high level Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) under the chairmanship of Home & Cooperation Minister with Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare; Minister for Fishery, Animal Husbandry and Dairying; Secretaries concerned; Chairman NABARD, NDDB and Chief Executive NFDB, as members has been constituted and empowered to take necessary steps for smooth implementation of the plan,” said the statement.