The Uttarakhand Cooperation Department has initiated legal action against the National Federation of Farmers Procurement, Processing and Retailing Cooperative of India Limited over alleged embezzlement of government funds and financial irregularities. The department has begun the process of registering two separate FIRs against the organisation while also moving to blacklist it across the country and recover the misused public funds.
According to the department, under the State Integrated Cooperative Development Project, ₹71.90 lakh allocated to a cooperative society in Tehri was transferred to NECOF. However, officials said that even after five years, the project has neither been executed nor has the amount been returned.
The investigation also reportedly found serious irregularities in the utilisation of ₹75.82 lakh under the e-MCP scheme involving nine cooperative institutions in Uttarakhand. The department alleged that the government funds linked to these institutions were not used as intended.
Taking note of the findings, the Cooperation Department, following directions from the Secretary of Cooperation, has sent a formal request to Nehru Colony Police Station to register two separate FIRs in connection with the matter.
Project Director Anand Shukla said the department would adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards the misuse of public funds and negligence affecting cooperative institutions. He added that strict legal action would be taken against those found responsible, in accordance with the law, while recovery proceedings for the government funds have also been initiated.
