Lok Sabha Question No. 1488 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-12
Subject: Online Platform for Cooperative
Ministry: COOPERATION
Asked by: D.K. Suresh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COOPERATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1488 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12/12/2023

## Online Platform for Cooperative

## 1488. SHRI D.K. SURESH :

Will the Minister of COOPERATION (सहकाįरता मंũी) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to bring a legislation to put up a legal and institutional framework for co-operatives and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  any  plan  to  introduce  online  platform/transaction  of  the entire process of Co-operative societies and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the number of Co-operative societies that have been given online platform so far; and
- (d) whether the Government is taking any steps to provide online facilities to the members of these societies to apply online for loans etc. and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF COOPERATION सहकाįरता मंũी (SHRI AMIT SHAH)

(a)  to  (d):  The  Cooperative  Societies  with  objects  confined  to  more  than  one  State  are governed under the provisions of Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act (MSCS), 2002 and rules  made  there  under.  An  amendment  has  been  brought  in  the  MSCS  Act,  2002  to strengthen governance, enhance  transparency, increase accountability, reform electoral process  and  incorporate  provisions  of  97 th Constitutional  Amendment  in  the  Multi  State Cooperative Societies.

In order tointroduce online platform/transaction in the functioning of Co-operative societies following initiatives have been undertaken by this Ministry:

- i. Strengthening  of  PACS  through  Computerization: A  project  for  Computerization  of 63,000 functional PACS with a total financial outlay of ₹2,516 Crore has been approved by  the  Government,  which  entails  bringing  all  functional  PACS  in  the  Country  onto  a common ERP based national software, linking them with NABARD through StCBs and DCCBs. A total of  62,318  PACS  from  28  States/  UTs  have  been  sanctioned  under  the project. Software is ready and trials have already started in 5,673 PACS in 26 States/ UTs so far.
- ii. Computerization of the Central Registrar's Office: Central Registrar's office has been computerized to create a digital ecosystem for Multi-State Cooperative Societies, which will assist in processing applications and service requests in a time bound manner.
- iii. Scheme  for  computerization  of  office  of  RCSs  in  States  and  Union Territories :  To increase 'Ease of doing business' for Cooperative Societies and create a digital ecosystem for transparent paperless regulation in all States/Union Territories, a Centrally Sponsored Project  for  computerization  of  RCS  Offices  has  been  approved  by  the  Government. Grants will be provided for purchase of hardware, development of software, etc.  to the States/ UTs.
- iv. Computerization  of  Agriculture  and  Rural  Development  Banks  (ARDBs) : To strengthen the Long-term Cooperative Credit structure, the project of computerization of 1,851 units of Agriculture and Rural Development Banks (ARDBs) has been approved by the Government. NABARD is the implementing agency for the project and will develop a national  level  software  for ARDBs.  Hardware,  support  for  Digitization  of  legacy  data, training to the employees, etc. will be provided under the project.

Further,  in  order  to  provide  online  facilities  to  the  members  of  the  cooperative  societies, PACS have been enabled to  function as  Common Service  Centre (CSC). In  this  regard,  a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between Ministry of Cooperation, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, NABARD and CSC e-Governance Services India Limited. This will enable PACS to deliver more than 300 e-services being provided by CSCs, including banking, insurance, Aadhar enrolment/ updation, health services, legal services, etc. to rural citizens of the country. So far, 24,470 PACS have started providing CSC services to the rural citizens which will also result in increase in income of those PACS at the same time.

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