Chief Principal Secretary of the Punjab Chief Minister Suresh Kumar today said that the state government would make strenuous efforts for strengthening cooperative movement in urban areas of Punjab for giving a fillip to its socio economic growth.Presiding over a function to mark 28th annual general meeting of the Citizens Urban Cooperative bank here today, the Chief Principal Secretary lauded the role of Cooperative sector in the holistic development of the state.He said that in rural areas more than 7000 milk cooperatives, 3000 Agri service centres, 1200 housing and labour cooperatives and others were playing a major role in boosting development of state. However, Mr. Suresh Kumar said that in urban areas very few cooperative institutions like Citizen Urban Cooperative Bank have came into existence to benefit the common man.The Chief Principal Secretary said that it was unfortunate that major districts of state like Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala and others still do not have leading cooperative banks, despite of tremendous potential in these cities. He said that state government would lay thrust on encouraging such institutions in these districts so that cooperative movement could be strengthened in the state. Mr. Suresh Kumar said that the focus of the state government would be to a major to this sector in the urban areas.
The Chief Principal Secretary said that Cooperative sector was the lifeline of the state, which has played a pivotal role in its socio-economic development. He said that Cooperative movement in India has immensely benefitted all the sections of society particularly. Mr. Suresh Kumar said that the need of the hour was to give further fillip to the Cooperative movement for which the state government was making concerted efforts.The Chief Principal Secretary said that said that the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh was firmly committed to restore the pristine glory of the state. He said that the state government was duty-bound to put the state on high growth trajectory, for which strenuous effort were already afoot. Lauding the Citizens Urban Cooperative Bank, the Chief Principal Secretary said that it has emerged as a lighthouse for the Urban cooperative movement. He said that from a turnover of Rs 110 crore in 2002 this bank has enhanced its turnover to currently Rs 700 crore adding that soon the bank would get the status of scheduled bank after touching Rs 750 crore mark. Mr. Suresh Kumar also appealed the people to adopt the twin principles of honesty and hard work along with dedication to ensure that our society, state and country progress a lot.
Earlier, MLA Mr. Pargat Singh underscored the need for transforming the society with the character building of every individual. He said that all of us were duty-bound to create a harmonious and progressive society for which every citizen should play its part. Mr. Pargat Singh also said that cooperative sector could play an important role in transformation of society by strengthening the ethos of harmony and brotherhood.In his address, Registrar Cooperative Societies Mr. Vikas Garg lauded the role played by bank in cooperative sector. He also assured fulsome support and cooperation to the bank in their future endeavors. Earlier, the Chairman of Citizens Cooperative Bank Mr. KK Sharma welcomed all the dignitaries and lauded the role played by Mr. Suresh Kumar in strengthening the Cooperative Sector in the state.Prominent amongst others present on the occasion included MLAs Mr. Sushil Kumar Rinku, Mr. Rajinder Beri and Mr. Bawa Henry, Deputy Commissioner Mr. Varinder Kumar Sharma, Commissioner of Police Mr. Praveen Kumar Sinha, Senior Superintendent of Police Mr. Navjot Singh Mahal, Chairman Markfed Mr. Amarjeet Singh Samra, former MLA Mr. Jagbir Singh Brar, Commissioner Municipal Corporation Jalandhar Mr. Diperva Lakra, Assistant Commissioner Mr. Himanshu Jain and others.