Punjab and Maharashtra today vowed to make joint efforts for strengthening the cooperative movement in our country. Both the states would not only promote products related to the cooperative movement in their states, but would also make joint efforts for strengthening this movement.This was stated by Punjab Cooperation Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Maharashtra Cooperation Minister Subhash Ji Deshmukh while addressing the gathering during a state-level function organised on the start of 65th Cooperative Week at Dr Manmohan Singh Auditorium in Punjab Agricultural University, here today.While speaking on the occasion, Mr Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said that strengthening of the cooperative movement is required for uplifting the state of farmers as well as for the overall development of our state. He said that it was during the previous Capt Amarinder Singh led Congress government in the state in year 2002, that Cooperative Act-2005 was implemented in the state. He said that this time also, the Congress government has given full prominence to the strengthening of cooperative sector in its agenda.While appreciating the contribution of Maharashtra state in cooperative sector, Mr Randhawa said that both Punjab and Maharashtra can join hands and take this sector forward. He announced that both the states would promote products of cooperative sector in each other’s state.Mr Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa informed that at present, around 3500 cooperative societies or organisations are working in Punjab, out of which 1900 are in profit, while 1100 are in losses. He said that the department is making efforts to ensure that the loss making cooperative societies are strengthened to that they also become profit making bodies. He also said that he would not let these organisations to become dens of corruption.
He stated that the societies would sell only the products of cooperative department and warned that if private products are found to be selling in any of the cooperative societies, then the secretary of that particular society would be held responsible for that. Besides, he also announced that from next year, the cooperative week would be organised in villages instead of cities and that too by farmers themselves. He called upon the farmers as well as others to join the cooperative department so that they can also avail of benefits of the schemes run by the Punjab government to uplift the cooperative sector.Mr Randhawa said that there is a great need to make some changes in the cooperative sector of the state. He said that Punjab is an agrarian state and the cooperative department is not only helping the farmers financially, but is also committed to strengthen the state of farmers through its cooperative societies. While congratulating the audience on the occasion of cooperative day, the Punjab Cooperation Minister said that the cooperative department is backbone of agriculture and there is a need to strengthen it.
While addressing the gathering, Maharashtra Cooperation Minister Mr Subhash Ji Deshmukh assured that for promoting the cooperative sector, they would support the Punjab government in every possible way. He also appreciated the products of Markfed and said that these products would be made available in Maharashtra as well. He said that if both Punjab and Maharashtra join hands and work hard for promoting this sector, then they can develop themselves as role models for the entire country.Mr Deshmukh urged the farmers to involve themselves in processing sector as well along with growing crops. Both the ministers also visited the exhibition showcasing products of self help groups and agriculture products.Punjab Agricultural University Vice Chancellor Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon called upon the cooperative societies to make people aware about farming and agriculture. He said that in Punjab, farming is a profitable profession if one works hard himself.During today’s function, several cooperative societies and organisations, who have shown good results were also honoured. On this occasion, new products of Markfed, Cooperative Department Maharashtra and Hindustan Petroleum were also launched.Prof Gurbhajan Singh Gill, former President, Punjabi Sahit Akademi, Ludhiana also gave a special lecture about the 550th Birth Anniversary of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji during the function.Prominent among those present on the occasion included MP from Sangli (Maharashtra) Mr Sanjay Kaka Patil, former minister Mr Malkiat Singh Dakha, MLA Payal Mr Lakhbir Singh Lakha, Markfed Chairman Mr Amarjit Singh Samra, former MP Mr Amrik Singh Aliwal, Markfed’s Managing Director Mr Varun Roojam, Maharashtra’s Cooperative Department Managing Director Mr Milind Akre, Sugarfed Managing Director Mr Davinder Singh, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited Executive Director Mr R Sudhindranath, Markfed Additional MD Mr Bal Mukand Sharma, Senior Congress leader Mr Major Singh Bhaini, DCC President Mr Gurdev Singh Lapran, Mr Krishan Kumar Bawa, PRO to Punjab Cooperation Minister Mr Navdeep Singh Gill, Advocate Mr Harpreet Sandhu, Mr Manjit Singh Hambran, besides several others. A cultural programme by the students of PAU Ludhiana was also organised on the occasion.