Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Wednesday said that the cooperative sector has become the bedrock of economic development across the country.
The cooperative movement has helped large number of people from different sections of the society and changed the living standards of people with functioning of the credit and thrift societies, housing societies, women cooperatives and cooperative banks.
She was speaking while interacting with active office bearers of cooperative movement in Delhi Secretariat. She added that there is shortage of dwelling units in the city and Cooperative Group Housing Societies helped in construction of thousands of dwelling units during last three decades, though, their role has been curtailed due to non-availability of land for housing sector.
The city Government would take up the matter with the Union Government and would impress upon the DDA to allot un-used land to cooperative group housing societies in order to overcome the shortage.
Dikshit further stated that Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) under the city Government has substantial quantity of land which is yet to be assessed.
The Government would like to consolidate it and use it for housing sector through cooperative group housing societies.
The available land would also be utilised for the housing of weaker sections.
The Government would explore all possibilities to involve cooperative sector in housing in the city. The veteran cooperative leader VP Singh and MlA Dr Bijender Singh were present on this occasion.
Dikshit also stated that the cooperative movement has paved the way of economic empowerment of poor. The credit and thrift societies and cooperative banks have contributed substantially in this field. She stressed upon the need of strengthening women cooperatives. Dikshit further added that cooperative movement has also resulted in furthering the sense of cooperation and harmony. She also presented awards to the best contributors in cooperative sector.