Uttar Pradesh Marks 4th Foundation Day of Ministry of Cooperation with Grand Celebration Under Minister J.P.S. Rathore
Lucknow: The Fourth Foundation Day of the Ministry of Cooperation was celebrated with grandeur at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, Gomtinagar, Lucknow, under the leadership of Uttar Pradesh Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Cooperation, J.P.S. Rathore. The event highlighted the progress made under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Sahkar se Samriddhi’ (Prosperity through Cooperation).
Key announcements and highlights:
- 51 PACS Committees across 38 districts of Uttar Pradesh now host Jan Aushadhi Kendras, offering 80–90% cheaper generic medicines and surgical products, improving rural healthcare accessibility and PACS income.
- 266 women trained as “Drone Didis” received DGCA-certified pilot certificates after completing intensive training under ICCMRT, Lucknow.
- Five outstanding Drone Didis—Divya Nishad (Gorakhpur), Monika Singh (Shahjahanpur), Archana Saxena (Amroha), Purnima Sharma (Jaunpur), and Vandana Singh (Mirzapur)—were specially felicitated.
- Excellence Awards were given to five PACS committees from Shahjahanpur, Kanpur, Etawah, Hapur, and Raebareli for contributions in agriculture credit, fertilizer distribution, MSP operations, and Jan Aushadhi initiatives.
- Two officers, Jayprakash Mishra (Meerut) and Shivdutt Sharma (Gautam Buddha Nagar), were awarded Bravery Honors for safeguarding cooperative funds from theft and ensuring their secure deposit.
Transforming Cooperation into a Movement
Minister Rathore emphasized that under CM Yogi Adityanath’s leadership, the cooperation sector has become a catalyst for social transformation.
- The Cooperative Membership Mega Drive (Sept 1–30, 2023) added 30 lakh new members and collected ₹70 crore in share capital.
- 6700 PACS received interest-free cash credit limits of ₹10 lakh, now being enhanced to ₹15 lakh.
- 980 PACS buildings have been renovated at a cost of ₹70 crore, with ₹30 crore more planned for 2025–26.
- 258 PACS were equipped with solar panels worth ₹5 crore under the renewable energy scheme.
He further noted that U.P. Cooperative Bank has become the first state cooperative bank in India to offer Aadhaar enrollment services, with district banks and PACS soon to follow. A new district cooperative bank in Balrampur is also underway with state funding.
To enhance digital oversight, a computerized PCU-based database of PACS committees has been launched. Minister Rathore also announced a hike in the ICCMRT trainer honorarium from ₹10,000 to ₹15,000.
‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ Call for Green Action
Environment Minister Dr. Arun Kumar Saxena, present as special guest, urged the cooperation department to actively participate in the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” plantation drive on July 9. He praised past afforestation efforts and set a target for 91 new cooperative gardens across the state.
Thought Leadership and Closing
Principal Secretary Saurabh Babu highlighted various innovations and reforms under the ministry.
Commissioner & Registrar Yogesh Kumar concluded the ceremony by thanking attendees and acknowledging the contributions of officials, participants, and organizing teams.
The event also saw participation from SRLM Mission Director Deepa Ranjan, former KGMU Vice-Chancellor, senior officials, district cooperative bank heads, cooperative society representatives, and SHG leaders, reflecting the collaborative spirit that defines the cooperative movement in Uttar Pradesh.
