The J&K Cooperative Societies Department convened a collaborative workshop today to discuss and co-create the proposed Holistic Cooperative Development Programme (HCDP). Commissioner Secretary, Cooperatives, Babila Rakwal, was the chief guest at the event.
The workshop saw active participation from a wide spectrum of stakeholders, including cooperative representatives, government departments, financial institutions, and sector experts. Notable attendees included Bhartiya Beej Sahakari Samiti Ltd., J&K Milk Producers Cooperative Ltd., J&K Dairy Cooperative Federation Ltd., UNATI Multi-State Cooperative Ltd., and Farm Fresh Ltd. Institutions such as NCDC, NABARD, and former CGM NABARD Bhallamudi Shridhar also participated.
Departments including Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Sheep Husbandry, Skill Development, Horticulture Planning & Marketing, Industries & Commerce, and the J&K State Rural Livelihoods Mission contributed insights and explored convergence possibilities.
The day began with a plantation drive under the banner of “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam,” led by Commissioner Secretary Rakwal. This was followed by a departmental presentation outlining the vision and structure of HCDP, which focuses on a bottom-up, people-led, and convergence-based development approach. HCDP is intended not as a prescriptive scheme but as a flexible framework to support cooperative-driven models across sectors such as agriculture, dairy, processing, fisheries, and digital enterprise.
Participants exchanged ideas on existing schemes, cooperative potential, and strategies to support grassroots ventures. Departmental representatives outlined opportunities for collaboration in areas like skill development, marketing, finance, and technical support.
Commissioner Secretary Rakwal stressed that understanding local capacities and unique contexts is key to success. She urged field officers to actively engage cooperative societies, facilitate convergence with government schemes, and provide hands-on support. She also directed that pilot projects be identified and initiated soon to test and demonstrate viability.
Rakwal further instructed that all suggestions and models shared during the session be compiled into a comprehensive reference document, to be circulated for feedback and refinement—underscoring the department’s co-creation ethos.
Senior officers from the Cooperative Department, including Additional Registrar Jammu, Joint Registrars (Audit, Banking & Finance, Special), Deputy Registrars, and Assistant Registrars from various districts, also attended the workshop.