Telangana Govt to Formulate Comprehensive Cooperative Policy for Modernisation of Sector
Hyderabad, May 15 (TNT): The Telangana Government is formulating a comprehensive State Cooperative Policy aimed at providing strategic direction for the growth and modernisation of the cooperative sector, Secretary Agriculture and Cooperation Surendra Mohan said on Friday.
The proposed policy will focus on professional management, financial sustainability, digital transformation and expansion into emerging sectors, he said during a meeting of the State Cooperative Development Committee held at the Secretariat here.
The meeting was jointly presided over by Union Secretary Ministry of Cooperation Ashish Kumar Butani along with Telangana Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao to review measures for strengthening the cooperative sector across the State.
Presenting a comprehensive overview of the cooperative sector, Surendra Mohan highlighted its significant role in the socio-economic development of rural communities.
He informed that as many as 60,925 cooperative societies are currently functioning across Telangana, reflecting the widespread reach and strength of the cooperative movement.
The Secretary stated that the Telangana Government is fully aligned with the Centre’s initiative for computerisation of Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) to improve transparency, efficiency and service delivery.
As part of efforts to diversify and strengthen rural economic activities, the Telangana Cooperative Union is supporting the transformation of 311 PACS into Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), enabling farmers to access better markets, value addition opportunities and collective bargaining mechanisms, he added.
During the meeting, Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao observed that Telangana has a strong and vibrant cooperative movement with immense potential to contribute to inclusive economic growth.
He reiterated the State Government’s commitment to strengthening PACS and transforming them into more viable and service-oriented grassroots institutions.
Ramakrishna Rao said the cooperative sector has significant potential for expansion, particularly in dairy and fisheries, which could generate substantial employment and income opportunities in rural areas.
He directed officials to focus on capacity building, diversification of cooperative activities and adoption of modern technology to make cooperative institutions more competitive and sustainable.
The Chief Secretary also stressed the importance of improved governance, digital integration, financial management and institutional capacity building to ensure inclusive growth and economic empowerment at the grassroots level.
Senior officials from the Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India, and various State government departments participated in the meeting and discussed initiatives aimed at expanding and modernising the cooperative ecosystem.
Among those present were Additional Secretary Ministry of Cooperation Government of India Siddarth Jain, Commissioner Civil Supplies Stephen Ravindra, Secretary Animal Husbandary Ilambarthi , along with senior officials from the Centre and the State Government.
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