“Cooperation in Cooperatives” Program Organized at Raj Bhavan to Mark International Year of Cooperatives 2025
Governor Gurmeet Singh and CM Dhami Launch New Cooperative Schemes in Uttarakhand
Dehradun: The Raj Bhavan hosted the “Cooperation in Cooperatives” program on Wednesday to commemorate the International Year of Cooperatives 2025, with the participation of Governor Lieutenant General Gurmeet Singh (Retd.) and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
On this occasion, two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed in the presence of the Governor and Chief Minister:
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Between the Indian Cooperative Society Limited and the Uttarakhand State Cooperative Federation – aimed at opening new opportunities in seed production and distribution, marking a milestone for state cooperatives and farmers.
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Between the National Cooperative Export Committee and the Uttarakhand State Cooperative Federation – intended to provide national and international market access to agricultural producers, cooperatives, and farmers of the state.
The event also witnessed the launch of two major schemes:
👉🏻 Uttarakhand State Cooperative Bank’s Loan Policy
👉🏻 Commercial Real Estate – Residential Home Loan Policy
In addition, Fikapar MPAX (Jaspur) and the District Cooperative Bank Ltd., Main Branch, Dehradun were honored for their outstanding contributions. Beneficiaries of the Deendayal Upadhyaya Cooperative Farmer Welfare Scheme also received cheques during the program.
Governor Lt. Gen. Gurmeet Singh (Retd.) emphasized that the cooperative movement is a collective revolution, rooted in Indian philosophy and the cultural ethos of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the world is one family). He said cooperation has always been an integral part of Indian life and is a strong medium of social and economic prosperity.
Highlighting women’s empowerment, the Governor praised women self-help groups as the economic backbone of families and commended the youth for driving innovation through startups, organic product marketing, processing, and digital platforms. He also noted that Uttarakhand’s cooperatives are supplying food grains, dairy, and essential commodities to the Army, ITBP, and paramilitary forces, setting an example of service to the nation.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami described cooperation as the oldest and most valuable principle of human society, which focuses on mutual empowerment and self-reliance rather than competition.
Key highlights from his address:
The rural economy of Uttarakhand is being strengthened through cooperatives.
All 671 multipurpose cooperative societies in the state have been computerized, with Uttarakhand being the first to initiate such computerization.
24 societies are functioning as Jan Aushadhi Kendras and 640 as Common Service Centers.
Data of 3,838 out of 5,511 societies has been uploaded to the National Cooperative Database for transparency.
Since February 2023, the state has formed 800 PACS, 248 new dairy societies, and 116 fisheries societies.
Under the Deendayal Upadhyaya Cooperative Farmer Welfare Scheme, farmers are receiving interest-free loans up to ₹5 lakh.
Cooperative banks in Uttarakhand hold ₹16,000 crore in deposits, reflecting public trust.
Over 1.63 lakh women have become “Lakhpati Didi”, showcasing women’s empowerment through cooperatives.
The Chief Minister also recalled that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Global Cooperative Conference 2024 was successfully hosted in India. He praised the establishment of a separate Ministry of Cooperation, led by Union Minister Amit Shah, as a transformative step to strengthen the movement nationwide.
Cooperative Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat highlighted that:
👉🏻 Uttarakhand is the first state in India to provide zero-interest loans up to ₹5 lakh to women self-help groups.
👉🏻 Nearly 2 lakh women have already become “Lakhpati Didis”, with a target to increase the number to 4 lakh by 2026.
👉🏻 The state is also the first to provide 33% reservation for women in cooperatives.
Other Officials Present
Kapil Meena, Director of Cooperation (Central Government), briefed about central government initiatives in the cooperative sector.
Dr. B.V.R.C. Purushottam, Secretary of Cooperation, presented details of state-level cooperative schemes.
Senior officials including Registrar Dr. Meherban Singh Bisht, Additional Registrars Ira Upreti and Mangala Prasad Tripathi, Joint Registrar Neeraj Belwal, along with representatives from cooperative banks, women self-help groups, and officials from across the state, were also present.
