Sahakar Pragya Initiative: An Endeavour to Develop Cooperative Sector

The Union Agriculture Minister, Narendra Singh Tomar, uncloaked the Sahakar Pragya Initiative on the 24th of November, 2020. National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) has launched this initiative with a mission to assist in the capacity development of the cooperative sector within the geographical boundaries of India via effective and innovation-based training programmes.

The 45 new training modules of Sahakar Pragya Initiative of the NCDC (Expanded as National Cooperative Development Corporation) will impart meaningful and value-rich training to primary cooperative societies in rural parts of the nation as well as Lakshmanrao Inamdar National Cooperative Research & Development Academy (Linac).

The cooperative society plays a significant role in ushering poor farmers of the villages on the path of becoming Atmanirbhar. India is known for having a vast network of more than 8.50 lakh cooperative societies with around 290 million members. In addition to this, about 94% of the farmers in India are part of at least one cooperative society. At the time of unveiling the Sahakar Pragya Initiative, the Union Agriculture Minister, Narendra Singh Tomar Ji, said that the cooperatives have a significant role in Atmanirbhar Bharat. Cooperatives support the farmers in lessening risks associated with agriculture & allied sectors. Besides this, cooperative societies act as a shield against exploitation by unethical traders. 

Under this initiative, 18 regional training centers have been inaugurated for primary cooperatives. The efforts of NCDC have received a wholehearted welcome from Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar. He intimated the officials to bring innovation-based training programmes into existence in order to empower farmers in the primary cooperative societies.

Sahakar Pragya Initiative: At a Glance

Given below is the table that shows a brief overview of the Sahakar Pragya Initiative-

Sahakar Pragya Initiative
Launch Date of the Scheme	November 24, 2020
Ministry Regulating the Initiative	Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
Union Agriculture Minister	Mr. Narendra Singh Tomar
Core Objective of the Scheme	To Educate the Farmers & Upgrade their Skills
Purpose of Bringing Sahakar Pragya Initiative	Advancement of Cooperative Sector in India
Other Organizations Associated	Laxmanrao Inamdar National Cooperative Research & Development Academy (Linac) National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)

Objectives of the Sahakar Pragya Initiative

The prime objectives of Sahakar Pragya Initiative are mentioned below-

• To impart knowledge, along with organizational skills, through the training modules under this initiative
• To strengthen the farmers and the agriculture industry
• To educate the farmers about the way of risk reduction in agricultural activities
• To make the farmers self-reliant

Note- Enhancement of National Cooperative Development Corporation training capacity via a network of 18 Regional Training Centres will also be set up across the boundaries of India.

National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)

• Under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, National Cooperative Development Corporation was set up by an Act of Parliament in the year 1963 as a statutory corporation.
• This organization is known for lending assistance to several types of cooperatives along with their financial bases.
• Furthermore, the main function of NCDC is planning, promoting, as well as financing the production, processing, along with marketing of various agricultural activities via cooperatives.
• National Cooperative Development Corporation is the apex financing body of Union Agriculture Ministry.

Laxmanrao Inamdar National Cooperative Research & Development Academy (LINAC)

• LINAC (Expanded as Laxmanrao Inamdar National Cooperative Research & Development Academy) is a training institution owned by National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).
• This organization was established in the year 1985.
• The academy strives to enhance its programmes as well as interventions with a robust client-orientation along with inter-disciplinary perspective.
• The purpose of this academy is to boost institutional capabilities as well as human resources in cooperatives.
• The core objective is business and entrepreneurship advancement in the sphere of cooperative societies.

Farmers Training through LINAC

• Ever since LINAC was established in the year 1985, it has rendered training to more than 30,000 people from cooperative societies.
• Managing Director of NCDC, Sundeep K Nayak, informed that Laxmanrao Inamdar National Cooperative Research & Development Academy (LINAC) has drawn out a plan to provide training to about 5,000 farmers in several cooperative societies in a year.
• The 45 dedicated training modules will be helpful in equipping the cooperative societies in managing their affairs in professional business terms of the market economy.

Other Sahakar Initiatives by NCDC in Brief

National Cooperative Development Corporation has taken several initiatives apart from Sahakar Pragya Initiative.

Given below are a few of the other Sahakar initiatives taken by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)-

Sahakar Mitra Scheme

Flagged off by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Sahakar Mitra Scheme is a structured Summer Internship Programme (SIP) for students as well as young professionals to acquire work-based knowledge and experience in the National Cooperative Development Corporation functioning. The responsible authority that manages and regulates the scheme is NCDC. Beneficiaries of this scheme are young professionals (interns) and Cooperatives. Under this scheme, interns will be getting precious opportunities to enhance the Cooperative sector with innovation-enriched solutions and thereby, increasing its value for both young professionals (interns) & Cooperatives.

The core objectives of this scheme are mentioned below-

• To impart knowledge to the interns concerning the role, contribution, as well as the impact of National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)
• To give dream run to PM Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Vocal for Local’
• To teach interns about the practical working methodology of NCDC
• To encourage capacity advancement in the Cooperative sector.
• To lend assistance to blossoming Cooperatives or those who seek well-formulated business plans.

Ayushman Sahakar Scheme

• Ayushman Sahakar Scheme, a scheme was launched by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare in order to support Cooperatives in devising and strengthening healthcare infrastructure in India. The scheme got formulated by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC). 
• The schemeassociates itself with the central point of the National Health Policy, 2017, entailing the health systems in numerous dimensions- organization of healthcare services and facilities, access to upgraded technologies, investments in health, human resources development, encouragement of medical pluralism, high-grade health care support to the farmers etc.
• In accordance with National Digital Health Mission, this scheme is bringing transformation in rural regions of India. 
• The scheme is known for providing working capital as well as margin money in order to fulfill operational needs. 
• After the COVID-19 outbreak, the need to provide more facilities in the hospitals came to light. 
• Ayushman Sahakar Scheme uplifts the provision of healthcare services by Cooperatives. 
• After the implementation of this scheme, revolutionary changes started taking place in rural areas. 
• The scheme encompasses establishment, expansion, modernization, as well as the renovation of healthcare & education infrastructure. 

Sahakar-22 Mission

• Sahakar-22 Mission was initiated by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC). 
• This mission is all about boosting the economic conditions of the farmers by increasing their income and expedites the pace of advancement.
• It generates new employment opportunities for farmers via Cooperatives.
• Another noteworthy objective of this mission is to upgrade Cooperatives in focus 222 districts as well as various other Aspirational districts. 
• Doubling the income of the farmers is the utmost priority under this mission. 

Yuva Sahakar Scheme

• National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) has launched the Yuva Sahakar Scheme in order to grab the attention of youth towards Cooperative business ventures.
• The scheme is concerned with meeting the demands of youth.
• Cooperatives running for at least one year are eligible to avail of this scheme. Yuva Sahakar Scheme is granting more incentives for North-eastern parts of India, Aspirational districts, as well as Cooperatives with women or Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribes or members of Public Works Department.
• Promoting young entrepreneurs in the Cooperatives is the core objective of Yuva Sahakar Yojana.
• Cheap loans are provided for commencing startups in the Cooperative sectors under this scheme.

Importance of Sahakar Pragya Initiative

As around 94% of farmers in India belong to one or other Cooperative society, the Cooperative sector has played a vital role in providing assistance to farmers in several ways. Sahakar Pragya is of utmost importance in spurring the Cooperative sector to increase awareness among the rural population and minimize the scope of risks.

Winding Up

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar launched the Sahakar Pragya Initiative in accordance with NCDC (National Cooperative Development Corporation). The mission of this initiative is to provide training to farmers in Primary Cooperatives in rural parts of India. At Aatmnirbhar Sena, we are propagating reasonable details concerning the scheme and will be granting support to the farmers in taking the benefits of the Sahakar Pragya Initiative as well.