Director, Ministry of Cooperation, GoI, Dinesh Kumar Verma visited Leh for his 5-day tour to UT-Ladakh from September 14 to 18.

An interactive session was organised by Cooperative Department Leh in the conference hall of DRC, Leh on September 15, wherein members from various Cooperative Societies especially the Primary Agriculture Credit Cooperative Societies, Marketing and Consumer Cooperative Societies of the District, Officers, and officials from the Cooperative Department and representatives from J & K State Cooperative Bank participated. 

At the outset, Dr. Mohd Abass, Deputy Registrar Cooperative Societies, Leh gave a brief presentation on various programs and schemes implemented in the Cooperative Sector in the District.

Director MOC, GOI, Dinesh Kumar Verma gave a detailed overview of the various initiatives taken by the Central Govt. in strengthening the Cooperative movement in the country especially in making the Primary Agriculture Credit Cooperative Societies (PACS) economically vibrant business entities through the adoption of model bylaws, Computerization of PACS, opening of Jan Aushadi Kendras through PACS for providing generic medicines, enabling PACS to operate Retail Petrol/Diesel outlets and LPG

Distributorship and various other CSC services through them.

A separate session on issues, challenges, and demands of various Cooperative Societies was deliberated upon for which the Director requested the concerned societies to make a written representation which he will take up to the concerned authorities in Govt. of India for suitable resolution.

The director requested that the societies of Leh engaged in organic production should become members of National Cooperatives Organic Limited (NCOL) so that the ultimate goal of fetching higher prices for their organic produce is achieved and farmers benefit.

Zakir Hussain,DRC, Kargil presented an overview of the progress made in the Kargil district in respect of the targets set under various schemes of Govt of India in the Cooperative Sector.

The director later had a meeting with the Executive Councillor, LAHDC, Leh, Stanzin Chosphel in the afternoon. During the meeting, the issues related to various initiatives were discussed and the Director solicited his active support to mobilize the societies of Leh to participate in various activities. The issue related to the potential of organic produce of Leh was discussed and financial assistance through LAHDC-Leh for strengthening of the Cooperative Sector.

He also had a brief meeting with the Secretary Cooperative, UT-Ladakh, Michael D’souza, and also with the Advisor, UT-Ladakh, and discussed the initiatives of the Ministry of Cooperation and expressed satisfaction with the ongoing progress of UT-Ladakh with respect to the initiatives of the Ministry of Cooperation.