“The Cooperative sector has the tremendous potential for being the major money spinner for the States across the country and to make this vision come to fruition a formal or informal forum of the Cooperation Ministers of all the States is must where state specific grievances and needs can be discussed for onward recommendation to the Government of India.” These views were expressed by the Cooperation and Jail Minister, Punjab, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa during the course of his visit to Odisha (29TH-31ST July, 2019) along with delegates from Department of Cooperation, Punjab and Punjab State cooperative Bank.The delegation from Punjab led by the minister visited the Odisha State Cooperative Bank, DCCB Head Office and its Mahila branch at District Khordha and one of the Primary Agricultural Credit Society (PACS) at Sishupal Garh to witness first hand the computerization of Cooperative Banks and PACS in the state of Odisha.During the sojourn, he held a meeting today with Minister of Cooperation and Food and Civil Supplies Government of Odisha Mr. Ranendra Pratap Swain during which the latter agreed to the proposal mooted by S. Randhawa. The minister was also apprised about the core banking solution System besides holding interacting with the Secretaries of societies and salesman of various bank branches and having a deep look into the working of branches.
On the occasion, Mr. Ranendra Pratap Swain appreciated the path breaking initiatives taken by the State of Punjab in respect of the cooperative sector and said that the steps initiated by the Punjab Government for strengthening of the cooperative sector would also benefit the farming sector and are worth emulating.Both the ministers were of the strong opinion that cooperation is back bone of agriculture and the sector needs to be brought under sharp focus for the strengthening of nation’s economy.During the meeting both the ministers appreciated the initiative taken by Odisha State Cooperative Bank and Department of Cooperation in the State of Odisha. S. Randhawa expressed his deep sense of appreciation and informed that the experience was highly educative and assured that they would implement the best practices that are being adopted by Odisha.The delegation accompanying S. Randhawa included the Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Punjab, Mr. Vikas Garg, MD, Punjab State Cooperative Bank Dr. S.K. Batish, Chief Information Technology Officer Mr. P.M.S. Malhi, Senior IT Officer Mr. Sanjay Gupta and the Consultant Punjab State Cooperative Bank Mr. K.S. Pandey.