In a significant move towards accelerated local development, Kerala’s Cooperation Minister, V.N. Vasavan, has announced an upcoming scheme to provide crucial loans for projects undertaken by local self-government institutions. These funds will be disbursed through cooperative societies that currently hold surplus capital, marking a strategic effort to empower grassroots initiatives.
The announcement came during the ‘Vision 2031’ seminar, a key one-day event organized by the State government to chart the future growth trajectory of the cooperative sector. Speaking at the inauguration, the Minister emphasized that substantial progress in local development can be realized through synergistic efforts between local self-government bodies and cooperative banks. He urged that local bodies be granted membership in cooperative banks, which would significantly improve their access to financial assistance. By depositing local body funds into these banks and fostering mutual collaboration, the state aims to ensure comprehensive growth for all its communities.
Minister Vasavan further indicated that the Cooperation department is preparing to engage in detailed discussions with the Local Self-Governments Minister regarding this pioneering initiative. Necessary legal amendments will also be introduced to facilitate the scheme’s implementation. Additionally, he revealed plans to finalize a unified software system for all transactions within primary cooperative societies and their branches, with completion expected within the next month.
The seminar, presided over by Government Chief Whip N. Jayaraj, also featured a report on the Cooperation department’s accomplishments over the past decade, presented by Veena N. Madhavan, Special Secretary. Dignitaries including MLAs C.K. Asha and Sebastian Kulathunkal, District Panchayat President Hemalatha Premsagar, Registrar of Cooperative Societies D. Sajith Babu, and State Cooperative Bank Chairman Gopi Kottamurickal were among those present, underscoring the collective commitment to this transformative vision.