Uttarakhand: CM Dhami inaugurated the Cooperative Fair in Dehradun, saying that such fairs promote local products of the state

The Cooperative Fair has commenced in the capital city. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the Cooperative Fair. During the event, CM Dhami distributed checks for interest-free loans of ₹5 lakh each to women’s cooperatives and women’s self-help groups.

The United Nations General Assembly declared 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives. Under this initiative, cooperative fairs are being organized across the state. In this context, a cooperative fair was also organized in Dehradun, the capital city, in observance of the International Year of Cooperatives 2025 and the Silver Jubilee year of the formation of Uttarakhand state. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the fair on Tuesday.

During the program, the Chief Minister said in his address that the cooperative fair is not just a display of products, but a powerful symbol of Uttarakhand’s cooperative strength, rural self-reliance, and self-respect. Cooperation has been a fundamental principle of the Indian way of life, where individuals rise above their self-interest to work for the collective good of society. The CM said that in today’s competitive era, the role of cooperatives has become even more important. Keeping this in mind, the United Nations has declared 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives.

The CM said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the creation of a separate Ministry of Cooperation to realize the vision of “prosperity through cooperation” is a historic decision, which is being strongly pursued under the leadership of Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah. Uttarakhand has become a leading state in the country in cooperative reforms. The computerization of multi-purpose cooperative societies across the country began in Uttarakhand. Under this initiative, all 670 cooperative societies in the state have become digital.

He said that earlier farmers had to run around to various offices, but today they are connecting with all services through their mobile phones. This is the difference between the Congress’s theoretical model and the BJP’s practical, ground-level model. The CM said that cooperative societies are no longer limited to providing loans, but are also providing affordable medicines through Jan Aushadhi Kendras (generic medicine centers), and insurance, pensions, electricity bill payments, Aadhaar and digital services through Common Service Centers. Under the Deendayal Upadhyaya Cooperative Farmers’ Welfare Scheme, farmers, women’s self-help groups, and cooperative societies are being made self-reliant by providing them with interest-free loans. The Chief Minister emphasized women’s empowerment, stating that special priority has been given to women’s cooperative societies and self-help groups, enabling lakhs of women to become financially independent and set a new example of self-reliance.