Move aimed at giving fillip to cooperative sector in the state
Says state to have its Cooperative policy soon
Chandigarh, September 25-
In a significant decision, the Punjab government led by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has lifted earlier restrictions on the creation of new cooperative societies, including PACS, Milk Societies, and Labour Societies.
Divulging the details, the Chief Minister said that the Cooperative movement in India is built on the principles of voluntary association, democratic member control, and open access. He emphasised that the cooperative sector in Punjab must be strengthened, expanded, and made more inclusive so that it directly benefits farmers, workers, and rural communities. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the State Government is in the process of formulating its own State Cooperative Policy, with a clear vision to attach more people with cooperatives, expand opportunities for participation, and strengthen fair competition.
The Chief Minister said that the aim is to make cooperatives a central pillar of Punjab’s rural and economic development. He said that it has observed that previous instructions of preventing registration of a new society where one already exists, rigidly defining areas of operation, and imposing a minimum distance (like 8 km for labour societies) were against the spirit of the Punjab Cooperative Societies Act, 1961 and the very idea of the cooperative movement. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these conditions discouraged voluntary participation and created monopolistic situations, limiting the choice of members.
The Chief Minister stressed that Punjab must lead in giving every farmer, worker, and entrepreneur the freedom to join or form a cooperative of their choice. Taking forward this vision, he said that the State Government has now withdrawn all such restrictive instructions with immediate effect. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Registration of new societies will be carried out strictly as per the Act, without artificial barriers.
Further, the Chief Minister said that the State Government is also reducing registration fees for PACS, dairy, and fishery cooperatives so that small farmers and weaker sections can join and benefit. He said that this reflects the commitment of state government to revitalise the cooperative movement in Punjab ensuring inclusivity, competition, and empowerment at the grassroots. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this initiative is aimed at giving a major boost to the cooperative sector in the state.
