Lok Sabha Question No. 2906 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-18
Subject: Digitalization of Cooperative Societies in Valsad
Ministry: COOPERATION
Asked by: Shri Dhaval Laxmanbhai Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COOPERATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2906 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 th  MARCH, 2025

## Digitalization of Cooperative Societies in Valsad

## 2906. Shri Dhaval Laxmanbhai Patel

Will the Minister of Cooperation ( सहकारिता मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  number  of  cooperative  societies  in  Gujarat,  particularly  in Valsad  which  have  been digitalized under the Cooperation among Cooperatives initiative;
- (b) the impact of digitalization on governance transparency and financial efficiency in Valsad's cooperative societies; and
- (c) the steps taken to strengthen cooperative banks in Valsad to enhance credit accessibility for rural entrepreneurs and farmers?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF COOPERATION सहकारिता मंत्री (SHRI AMIT SHAH)

(a)&(b)  To achieve the prosperity in the country through the mantra of 'Sahakar Se Samriddhi' given by the Prime Minister, a pilot project to promote 'Cooperation among Cooperatives' was launched  on  21st  May,2023  in  Banaskantha  and  Panchmahal  District  Central  Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) of Gujarat to promote all financial transactions of Primary Dairy Cooperative Societies (PDCSs) with Rural Cooperative Banks and to strengthen and make the cooperative sector Aatma Nirbhar. Activities taken up under the pilot project are as under:

- i. Dairy cooperative societies were made Bank Mitras of DCCBs:  To ensure ease of doing business  of  PDCSs  through  digital  financial  transactions  and  to  promote  financial inclusion,  micro-ATMs  were  given  to  these  Bank  Mitra  PDCS  with  support  from NABARD's Financial Inclusion Fund (FIF) to provide doorstep financial services.
- ii. Rupay KCC through DCCBs: To expand the business and reach of DCCBs and to provide necessary liquidity/credit to the members of dairy cooperative societies, RuPay Kisan Credit Cards (KCCs) were issued by DCCBs to the members of PDCS and other societies for providing timely credit at comparatively lower interest rates and enabling other financial transactions.
- iii. Awareness about the campaign was created through Financial Literacy Camps (FLCs) which was also supported through Financial Inclusion Fund (FIF).

On the basis of learnings during the pilot project, the campaign was expanded and launched in  all  districts  of  Gujarat  from  15th  January  2024. A  Standard Operating Procedure  for the nation-wide  implementation  of  the  Campaign  on  'Cooperation  among  Cooperatives'  was launched  on  19.09.2024.  Achievements  during  the  campaign  in  the  state  of  Gujarat  are provided below:-

- Over 2,23,994 new RuPay KCCs were issued by DCCBs including 2,126 in Valsad district.
- 6,446 micro-ATMs were distributed to new Bank Mitra PDCS including 503 in Valsad district.
- 6,529 Bank Mitras were enrolled including 503 in Valsad district.
- More than 23 lakh deposit accounts opened including 67,527 in Valsad district.
- Total Rs. 8,329 crore was deposited including Rs. 30 crore in Valsad district.

Further, under 'Strengthening of PACS through Computerization' scheme implemented by Ministry of Cooperation, computerisation of 5,754 PACS of Gujarat state have been sanctioned out of which 22 PACS are from Valsad district. The computerization of PACS will improve their governance transparency and financial efficiency.

(c) To enhance credit accessibility for rural entrepreneurs and farmers in Valsad, the DCCB is working  towards  developing  new  products,  promoting  Govt.  Sponsored  Scheme  under supervision of RCS and NABARD. StCB is also playing vital role in development of DCCB to  strengthen  their  system  and  to  cater  the  need  of  farmers. Allotment  of      m  -ATM  to PACS/PDCs and issuance of RuPAY card to members will felicitate the ease in banking for farmers.

*****