Tamil Nadu - Salem

Co-op. societies enhance living standard of the poor: Minister

— Photo: P. Goutham.

For the needy: Agriculture Minister Veerapandi S.Arumugam (right) distributing welfare assistance to beneficiaries at the co-operative week celebrations in Salem on Sunday.

SALEM: Co-operative societies play a vital role in enhancing the living standard of the poor and farmers, said Agriculture Minister Veerapandi S. Arumugam.

Participating at the 55th All India Co-operative Week celebrations here on Sunday, the Minister said over 20 crore people were members in five lakh societies, which were playing important role in enhancing the quality of life of people in the country.

He further said that various loans were extended to people under the co-operatives in Tamil Nadu. Under the short-term crop loan, Rs. 1,500 crore had been earmarked of which Rs. 760 crore had been disbursed.

In Salem district, Rs. 65 crore had been earmarked in which Rs. 50 crore had already been disbursed. A total of 1,306 societies were functioning to cater to the needs of the people in the district.

The Minister asked those who received loans to repay them. This would not only benefit the societies but also the beneficiaries. He also distributed loans to the tune of Rs. 3.28 crore to 2,044 persons.

Presiding over the function, Collector J. Chandrakumar said that the co-operative movement alone could integrate the nation. The uplift of people and the country depended on the co-operatives.

A sum of Rs. 302 crore as loans had been waived in Salem district after the Chief Minister’s announcement. Nearly 1.33 lakh farmers were benefited from this. Societies also played important roles in public distribution system and were in the forefront in taking the government’s welfare schemes to the people, he said.

Salem Mayor J. Rekha Priyadarshini, MLA A. Raja and Joint Registrar of Co-operatives P. Jogi participated.

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