Leh: The Chief Secretary and Chairperson of the State Cooperative Development Committee (SCDC), Dr. Pawan Kotwal, chaired a comprehensive meeting at the Civil Secretariat Leh to review preparations for the International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) celebrations in Ladakh. The session was organized by the Administrative Secretary Cooperative Department, Bhupesh Chaudhary.
During the meeting, Additional Registrar of Cooperatives, UT Ladakh, Syed Sajjad Qadri, presented key updates, including the formation of District and State Cooperative Development Committees, unveiling of the IYC logo, appointment of nodal officers, and the release of an annual activity calendar outlining events and initiatives under IYC.
The meeting also addressed crucial topics such as media coverage, usage of the IYC commemorative stamp and logo, budget utilization, impact assessment strategies, and the inclusion of additional committee members.
Highlighting ongoing initiatives, the Additional Registrar shared progress on the computerization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), establishment of PACS-based dairy and fisheries cooperatives, revival of defunct PACS, and the transformation of PACS into Multipurpose PACS (MPACS).
Dr. Pawan Kotwal officially launched the annual activity calendar for IYC celebrations, emphasizing the significant role of cooperatives in driving economic growth, self-reliance, and rural development in Ladakh. He instructed officials to incorporate the IYC logo and commemorative stamp on all UT Administration communications.
The Chief Secretary further directed officials to prepare a detailed plan for reviving defunct PACS in alignment with Ministry guidelines. He also stressed the importance of exploring the potential of fisheries cooperative societies in Ladakh and asked the department to devise a strategic plan to promote this sector.
The meeting was attended by key officials, including the Administrative Secretary of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Bhupesh Chaudhary; Additional Registrar of Cooperative Societies; Director of Animal Husbandry & Fisheries; Chief General Manager of NABARD; Managing Director of J&K State Cooperative Bank; and representatives from the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), and Food Corporation of India (FCI). Officers stationed outside Ladakh participated virtually.
The committee pledged its commitment to ensuring the success of IYC celebrations, aiming to elevate Ladakh’s cooperative sector on both national and international platforms.
