Srinagar, Pauri Garhwal — Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated a nine-day Cooperative Fair at Awas Vikas Ground in Srinagar on Monday, emphasizing that the cooperative movement is becoming a strong pillar for rural development, women empowerment, and economic self-reliance in Uttarakhand.
The Chief Minister inspected stalls set up by various self-help groups (SHGs), farmers, and cooperative societies, appreciating their contribution in promoting local products and linking them with wider markets. He said that cooperation not only connects society but also strengthens the foundation of self-sustainability.
Dhami stated that 2025 has been declared the International Year of Cooperatives, and the central government’s decision to establish a separate Ministry of Cooperation reflects its commitment to building a “prosperous India through cooperatives.” He added that the Srinagar Cooperative Fair will further deepen the spirit of collaboration and provide women with a platform to expand their entrepreneurial reach.
The Chief Minister informed that the state has completed the computerization of 671 cooperative societies, and records of 3,838 societies across 13 districts have been uploaded to the National Cooperative Portal. To encourage farmers, the minimum support price (MSP) of mandua (finger millet) has been increased by ₹5.50 per kg, bringing it to ₹48.86 per kg.
He added that under the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Kisan Kalyan Yojana, farmers are being provided interest-free loans up to ₹3 lakh, and women’s SHGs can avail loans up to ₹5 lakh. Dhami said that deposits in cooperative banks have now reached ₹16,000 crore, a reflection of public trust in the cooperative sector.
Speaking about women’s empowerment, Dhami highlighted the success of the “Lakhpati Didi” campaign, which has become a model of financial independence for women in the state. He said that women of Uttarakhand are fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision that “the third decade of the 21st century will belong to Uttarakhand.”
Addressing governance initiatives, the Chief Minister mentioned that Uttarakhand has become the first state in the country to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). He added that a strict anti-cheating law has been enforced, under which more than 100 offenders have been jailed, and a strong land law has been brought in to curb illegal land deals and protect the state’s identity.
Dhami also assured that once the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Srinagar’s sewer line and water supply project is received, the government will immediately approve it to ensure 15 hours of uninterrupted water supply to the city.
Cooperation Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat, who also attended the event, said that 31 lakh people in the state are currently associated with cooperatives, and the government aims to increase this number to 50 lakh. He informed that 16 lakh farmers have received interest-free loans, and the cooperative sector currently records ₹30 crore in profit.
Rawat further said that the ongoing Cooperative Fair in Srinagar has generated ₹35 lakh in sales from SHGs and a total business of nearly ₹1 crore. He announced that 1,500 LT teachers will soon receive appointment letters, taking the state’s new employment figure to 26,500.
During the event, the Chief Minister and Cooperation Minister distributed ₹5 lakh cheques to women’s self-help groups for horticulture, poultry, leaf plate production, and cattle rearing projects. Two cooperative societies received ₹4 lakh each for agricultural equipment under the SMAM scheme, and Naveen Patwal was honored for achievements in mushroom cultivation.
The event was attended by MLA Rajkumar Pori, District Panchayat Chairperson Rachna Butola, District Magistrate Swati S. Bhadauria, Senior Superintendent of Police Lokeshwar Singh, and a large number of cooperative members and public representatives.
