Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday said that the State Government would strengthen the cooperative banks by providing all possible assistance.
Sukhu, during the SPARK-2023 event organized by the Himachal Pradesh State Co-operative Bank Limited (HPSCB), emphasized the need for the HPSCB to be prepared for future challenges. “The banks should be equipped with digital technology and provide facilities to customers utilizing modern technology,” he said.
“Reforms will be implemented within six months to enhance the functioning of cooperative banks,” he said while assuring that permissions under Section-118 of the Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1972, will be given on priority to co-operative banks for land purchase.
Sukhu further said that the first budget of the Congress Government symbolizes the system revamp, in which efforts have been made to strengthen the rural economy and the HPSCB should ensure its active participation in the implementation of these initiatives.
“The State Government is formulating a scheme to provide loans up to Rs 20 lakh, at the rate of one percent interest, to poor students for higher education, so that no one is deprived of education due to a lack of resources,” he said.
The Chief Minister added, “Along with this, taxi operators are going to be issued permits to run e-taxi in the coming time. The State Government will provide a 50 percent subsidy on the purchase of e-taxi, e-bus and e-truck; while 40 percent financial assistance will be provided to set up solar power projects ranging from 250 kW to 2 MW and the electricity generated would be purchased by the Himachal Pradesh Electricity Board Limited.”
He said that cooperative banks should liberally provide loans in these schemes, whose sovereign guarantee would be provided by the State Government. The State Government would make the cooperative bank a prime bank for the scheme of setting up solar energy projects, he added.
During the event, the Chief Minister unveiled the Bank's new logo, and also launched the internet banking facility, Academy for Agriculture Entrepreneurship Development for Growth and Empowerment (Aagri EDGE) and a new website. The Chief Minister also released the Bank's vision document during the event.
“The present State Government would bring the economy of Himachal Pradesh back on track in the coming four years. The State Government would promote green industries, including tourism, hydro energy, IT, Data Center and the food processing sector,” he added.
The Chief Minister said that the state government is moving ahead with its innovative thinking and has implemented the old pension scheme for the state government employees in the first cabinet meeting. The government has fulfilled the first promise and all the promises will be fulfilled in a phased manner, he added.
“The present Government has inherited a huge debt but the State Government is working towards making the state self-reliant and increasing financial resources. 90 percent of the population lives in villages and efforts are being made to strengthen the economic condition of the rural population. A scheme is underway to buy cow's milk at the rate of Rs 80 per liter and buffalo's milk at Rs 100 per liter from farmers to support the agriculture sector,” he added.
Taking Corrective Measures to Transform Coop’s into a New Mass Movement: Dy CM
Highlighting the significance of the cooperative movement in Himachal Pradesh, which has gained recognition nationwide, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said that the first cooperative society was established in 1892 in Panjawar, located in the Una district within his assembly constituency, Haroli.
“Cooperative banks in Himachal Pradesh, initiated through societies, now serve as the backbone of the state's economy,” he said.
Acknowledging instances where individuals tarnished the reputation of cooperatives, he assured that the State Government is taking corrective measures to transform cooperatives into a new mass movement. He urged the officers to work with the bank's reputation in mind.
Agnihotri said that the previous government's financial mismanagement had burdened the state with a debt of Rs 75,000 crore. “Despite the challenging situation, the Chief Minister's strong determination has led to the reinstatement of the old pension scheme for government employees,” he said, stressing that the present State Government prioritizes the well-being of employees and urged for their contribution in the state's development.
He also expressed concerns over attempts to destabilize Himachal Pradesh financially and the creation of obstacles in providing financial assistance to the state.
Will Strongly Fight for Himachal’s Due Rights: CM
Declaring that the Himachal Pradesh would fight strongly for its due rights, Chief Minister said that 12,000 MW of power was being produced in the State but Himachal was getting only 12 percent of power as state share, which was unfair to the people of the State.
“The issue of enhancing royalty in hydropower projects, which have completed the payback period, has been taken up with the Union Government. Along with this, Himachal should get back hydropower projects made by Central Public Sector Undertakings after a certain period,” he said.
He said that talks have been held to get back the Shanan project and the present State Government is ready to fight for the interests of Himachal Pradesh. “Water cess is the right of Himachal and the State will take it,” he added.