Kargil, April 16: In line with the ongoing observance of International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) 2025, a comprehensive review meeting was convened under the chairmanship of Syed Sajjad Qadri, Additional Registrar of the Cooperative Department, UT Ladakh.
The purpose was to assess the progress made and establish a future roadmap for cooperative development across the Union Territory.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Registrars of Cooperatives (DRCs) from Leh and Kargil, all Assistant Registrars, and other relevant officials from the Cooperative Department.
A thorough review of ongoing and planned activities was conducted. Additionally, the meeting deliberated on the implementation of key directives issued during the State Cooperative Development Committee (SCDC) meeting chaired by Chief Secretary of UT Ladakh on 12th March 2025.
During the meeting, field officials were directed to expedite the viability survey of all defunct cooperative societies and coordinate closely with them to resolve any challenges to their revival.
The establishment of a State Cooperative Bank (StCB) was discussed. To facilitate this, a comprehensive survey of all Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) will be conducted by the respective DRCs of Leh and Kargil. Officials were instructed to ensure the timely completion of the survey as a prerequisite for finalizing the proposal.
The department emphasized the importance of promoting and supporting Farmer Producer Organizations to enhance agricultural development and improve rural livelihoods through cooperatives.
Both DRCs were tasked with organizing meetings involving departmental staff and cooperative society members to collect and submit benchmarking parameters for various societies, aiming to standardize and improve performance.
Officials were advised to explore and encourage collaborations with the National Cooperative Export Limited (NCEL) to facilitate the export of indigenous products from Ladakh, thereby opening new markets for local cooperatives.
Emphasis was placed on greater coordination with Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and other line departments to enable integrated and synergized development of the cooperative sector.
It was decided to intensify awareness campaigns across the Union Territory, using the official logo and actively involving youth and community stakeholders in promoting cooperative values and participation.
The Cooperative Department reaffirmed its commitment to leveraging the International Year of Cooperatives 2025 as a strategic opportunity to revitalize the cooperative movement in Ladakh and significantly contribute to inclusive and sustainable socio-economic growth in the region.
