Bhopal: Minister of state for cooperatives (independent charge) Vishwas Sarang said that Apex bank officers will be made Guardians (Palak Adhikari) for the loss-making banks including district cooperative banks. Through this schemes will be launched to strengthen financial status of the banks. Sarang said work will be carried out with determination for farmers, poorer and employment generation in cooperative sector on the basis of recommendations of the Manthan. In valedictory function of two-day Sahkari Manthan, Sarang said that popular Patanjali products will be sold at PACS shops along with products of Cooperative Federation. Principal Secretary, cooperatives, Ajit Kesri, Commissioner, cooperatives Manish Shrivastava, Apex Bank Managing Director Pradip Nikhra were present on the occasion.

Cooperatives minister Sarang said that the time has come to extend contribution of cooperative to development of entire state along with villages and poor farmers. He said, a scheme will be launched to incorporate every person with cooperatives, considering poor farmer and PACS as the centre.

He said that food grains are sold at present at fair price from PACS shops. Now he said, Patanjali products like sops, oil will be sold from there, along with products of minor forest produces and milk federations, which are in public demand. Sarang said that on the line of fair price shops, shops for building material will also be opened. It would generate job opportunities for youths, common consumers will get quality construction material at fair price. He said, cooperatives sector has huge potential. The need is that to explore it with vision and direction.

Sarang said that there should be monitoring mechanism along with working in cooperatives. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had announced constitution of cooperative ombudsman, as a major initiative in the country in the sector. He said, with the announcement of computerization of rural credit cooperative societies and provide full fund, has indicated that picture of cooperative sector is shining and it would have an important role in development of the state.

Sarang said that over 200 people in nine groups participated in two-day Sahkari Manthan. Discussion was held on skill enhancement training, to revive loss-making banks, appointment of Guardians (Palak Adhikari) and other important issues. A report will be prepared in next three days involving all issues. On the basis of them, action plan will be submitted to Chief Minister. Further execution progress of the plan will be assessed after three months. In next six months, Manthan will be held again in the presence of the Chief Minister, on achievements.

In the two day Manthan, nine groups discussed action plan to cooperative banks with other competitive banks, challenges and up gradation of cooperative banks, possible financial irregularity in cooperative credit structure, reasons and measures to curb them, new work culture in cooperative banks and human resources development, develop PACS as multi-purpose service provider, innovation in cooperative sector, role of apex cooperatives institutions in development of cooperative principles and cooperative institutions, action plan for strengthening of cooperative and skill enhancement and employment generation through cooperative. The groups presented their findings by power points. All the groups discussed the findings again and finalised the recommendations.