Co-ops will be big part of villages: PM Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said his government is working to make cooperatives a strong aspect of rural life. He said they are being scaled up in fisheries and different sectors of agriculture after making a mark in the dairy and sugar industries.

Engaging with beneficiaries during a virtual interaction of the ongoing 'Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra' (VBSY), the Prime Minister expressed his dedication to identifying those yet to be encompassed by these welfare initiatives. He declared that the 'Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra' is actively seeking individuals excluded from government welfare schemes.

Elaborating on the efforts to organise small farmers, the Prime Minister discussed the establishment of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and cooperative enterprises like Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS).

“It is our endeavour that cooperation emerges as a strong aspect of rural life in India. We have seen the benefits of cooperation in the milk and sugarcane sectors, and now it is being expanded to other areas of farming and sectors like fish production. We are moving ahead with the target of creating new PACS in two lakh villages in the coming time,” said Modi.

He also highlighted proposals for promoting cooperative solutions in dairy and storage, along with efforts to strengthen over two lakh micro-industries in the food processing sector.

He emphasised that the goal of ‘VBSY’ is to extend support to individuals who, for various reasons, have been excluded from government schemes. The Prime Minister asserted that this campaign, aligned with the vision of a developed India, is continuously expanding.

 “It has not even been 50 days since the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra started, but it has already reached 2.25 lakh villages. This is a record in itself,” stated Modi, expressing gratitude to everyone, especially women and youth, for contributing to its success.

He highlighted the Yatra's purpose, aiming to reach individuals who, due to specific reasons, have missed out on the benefits of Government of India schemes.

 “This proactive outreach is intended to assure people that government schemes are accessible to all without any bias or discrimination, and I am actively searching for those who have been overlooked,” Modi said.

The Prime Minister underscored the unprecedented confidence among beneficiaries, acknowledging their stories of positive life changes in the past decade.

“These benefits are motivating beneficiaries to enhance their lives further. Today, millions of beneficiaries across the country are using government schemes as a means to progress,” he noted.

He mentioned the transformative impact of ‘Modi ki Guarantee ki Gaadi’ and its role in boosting people's confidence while fulfilling their aspirations.

The Prime Minister pointed out that many new beneficiaries are availing themselves of these benefits and emphasised the responsibility of local body representatives in identifying eligible individuals in villages, wards, cities, and localities.

In his address, Modi shared the government's initiative to empower women in rural areas through a substantial campaign for self-employment. Over the past years, approximately 10 crore sisters, daughters, and ‘didis’ have joined self-help groups, receiving assistance exceeding Rs 7.5 lakh crore from banks.

“To further expand this campaign, I have set a target of creating two crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’ in the next three years,” he announced, introducing the ‘Namo Drone Didi Yojana’ aimed at bolstering the confidence of rural women.