Uttarakhand: CM Dhami released NABARD’s State Focus Paper 2026-27 and said that NABARD plays a crucial role in rural development

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that Uttarakhand is the first model state in the country to digitize its cooperative societies. All 670 cooperative societies operating in the state have been completely digitized. Previously, farmers had to visit offices repeatedly, but now information about schemes is available online.

He said that cooperative societies are no longer limited to providing loans. They are now also providing affordable medicines through Jan Aushadhi Kendras, and insurance, pensions, electricity bill payments, Aadhaar services, and other digital services through CSC (Common Service Centers).

On Monday, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) and Ministry of Cooperation fair at Rangers Ground, under the International Year of Cooperatives – 2025. Dhami said that Uttarakhand’s cooperatives are a powerful symbol of rural self-reliance, self-respect, and self-employment.

He said that cooperation has been a fundamental principle of the Indian way of life. The United Nations has declared 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives. He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a resolution has been taken to realize these plans. The formation of the Ministry of Cooperation is a historic decision. Under the leadership of Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, work is being done to advance these schemes.

He said the government is working to make farmers, women’s self-help groups, and cooperative institutions self-reliant by providing interest-free loans under the Deendayal Upadhyaya Cooperative Farmers Welfare Scheme. The Lakhpati Didi scheme is being run to empower women. Rajya Sabha member Naresh Bansal, Cabinet Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat, MLA Rajpur Khajan Das, MLA Cantt Savita Kapoor, and others were present on the occasion.

NABARD to provide ₹65,000 crore for rural development

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that NABARD plays a crucial role in rural development. A budget of ₹65,916 crore has been estimated for rural development in 2026-27, which is 20.50 percent more than the previous year.

There is a roadmap for the Potential Linked Credit Plan (PLP) for agriculture and rural development at the district level. This includes agriculture, micro, small and medium enterprises, infrastructure, and climate change. The bank is working on preparing the necessary documents to finalize the ACP (Annual Credit Plan).