Additional Registrar Cooperative Societies Jammu Bal Krishan today convened a comprehensive review meeting to assess the progress of cooperative activities in Jammu Division.
The meeting was attended by Joint Registrar (Audit), Cooperative Societies, Jammu, Priyanka Bhat along with all Deputy Registrars (DRCS), District Audit Officers (DAOs) and Assistant Registrars (ARCS) of Jammu Division.
A district-wise review was conducted, covering the implementation status of Centrally Sponsored Initiatives, UT-specific schemes and activities being undertaken under the International Year of Cooperatives.
Officers were urged to align district-level efforts with the vision and guidelines of the Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India to ensure uniformity and efficiency in program execution.
In view of the forthcoming Amarnath Yatra, Machail Yatra and other high-footfall pilgrimage events, Bal Krishan directed districts to establish Cooperative Mandaps at strategic locations. “These mandaps will act as facilitation and promotion centers, displaying cooperative products and services and increasing the movement’s reach and visibility among pilgrims and locals alike” he said.
The Additional Registrar issued strict instructions to ensure that e-PACS (Primary Agricultural Credit Societies) conduct dynamic day-end closures and that e-Audit processes are completed within stipulated timeframes. These digital processes are monitored at the national level and are critical for ensuring compliance with evolving cooperative governance standards.
To further boost rural economy and value addition, the Additional Registrar assigned district-wise targets to all Deputy Registrars for the establishment of additional Food Processing Units during the Financial Year 2025–26. He also emphasized that existing units must be made fully functional at the earliest to serve cooperative members effectively and generate local employment.
Moreover, the DRs were instructed to expedite the identification of core agricultural produce in their districts for Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS)-based Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). They were directed to mobilize additional farmer members in coordination with designated Cluster-Based Business Organizations (CBBOs) to facilitate structured development and access to central support under the FPO scheme.
Highlighting the importance of inclusivity, the meeting placed special focus on increasing women’s participation in cooperatives beyond the dairy sector. Officers were encouraged to support the formation and strengthening of women-led cooperatives, tapping into their potential for inclusive economic growth and social empowerment.
During the interactive session, several ARs and DRs raised operational issues, especially the need to permit Common Service Centres (CSCs) functioning under cooperatives to offer services involving Aadhaar authentication and e-stamp generation. The Additional Registrar acknowledged these concerns and assured that the department will explore measures to enable such service delivery, thereby enhancing cooperative revenues and enabling doorstep governance services.
Addressing regional imbalances, the Deputy Registrar of Kishtwar was specifically instructed to initiate the establishment of PACS in remote and spiritually significant areas such as Machail, inspired by the Baba Jitto Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society (MPCS) model which merges spiritual identity with community empowerment.
In his concluding remarks, Bal Krishan urged officers to personally visit societies, engage with grassroots members and promote awareness about progressive cooperative models including PACS as FPOs, Food Processing Units and diversified economic activities. He reiterated the transformative power of cooperatives in fostering economic self-reliance, local entrepreneurship and collective bargaining power across rural Jammu.
