“The Cooperative Societies form the backbone of the rural economic structure of Punjab and with a view to curb embezzlement/corrupt practices, all the cooperative societies would be computerized”. This was disclosed here today at the Markfed office by the Cooperation and Jails Minister S. Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa while presiding over a high level meeting of the Cooperative Department.The minister also divulged that the beginning of computerization would be made from the societies of the border areas. He also said that the societies going online would see increased level of transparency in the functioning of the societies while putting an end to the embezzlements/corrupt practices. In the initial phase, the societies falling with in the village situated in Tarn Taran, Ajnala, Rajasansi, Baba Bakala, Batala, and Dera Baba Nanak would undergo computerization and the tendering process would be undertaken soon in this regard.The minister also took stock of the recovery process undertaken by the cooperative banks from various institutions and lauded the best performing societies of Ludhiana, Sangrur, Moga and Mansa in this regard.
He also said that the recovery process needs to be given more robust shape and strict legal action be taken against the top 15 defaulters not paying back the loans availed from the societies.The meeting also saw the decision with regard to the inking of agreements with the Walmart & Best Price companies and the opening of their sales centres through cooperative societies in rural regions. The minister further elaborated that this novel move would result in the strengthening of the economic base of the societies on one hand while on the other, the farming community would be directly benefitted who depends largely on the cooperative societies for its needs. He also added that in order to further improve upon the performance of the cooperative societies, Meetings would be held with the Presidents as well as the Secretaries of the societies at the Division level.Among others present on the occasion included the Additional Chief Secretary (Cooperation), Mrs. Kalpana Mittal Baruah, Secretary Agriculture Mr. Kahan Singh Pannu, Registrar Cooperative Societies Mr. Vikas Garg, MD Markfed Mr. Varun Roojam and Mr. Charandev Singh Mann.