Excelsior Correspondent
Leh, May 3: Minister for Cooperatives Chhering Dorjey convened meeting of Presidents and Members of the various Cooperative Societies of Leh District. The meeting was also attended by Councilors, officers and officials of Cooperative Department.
Minister said that the sole purpose of the meeting was to look at the developments under Cooperative.
The issue of vegetable & fruit contract with army was the main highlight of the meeting. Phunchok Angchuk Kalon, President Marketing Cooperative Society Leh raised serious issue regarding non-fulfilment of negotiated contract committed with the Army last year, as a result, the Co-operative Society had to bear a huge loss amounting to Rs. 18 lakhs and of around Rs. 7 lakhs this financial year.
To streamline the contract with army in future and to cope up with the previous loss, Kalon proposed for a revolving fund for the Cooperative Marketing Society.
Regarding setting up of a vegetable cold storage in Leh, Minister stressed for a technology with controlled atmosphere which would be conducive for both winter and summer in Ladakh.
A serious issue of restricting the use of old vehicles like trucks, buses and taxis as per the recently set ‘vintage of vehicles’ by the Army, also came up in the discussion. Strongly opposing the army’s decision over fixation of vintage of vehicles, the representatives of truck and taxi unions said that this decision of army would grossly affect the interest of the maximum local transporters and taxi owners as more than 70% vehicles do not qualify to the army’s recent terms and conditions.
Talking about the non-availability of a cooperative coaching centre for diploma courses in Ladakh, Minister said that such centres can be opened if the need is felt. Stress can also be laid on providing micro-level loans to farmers by conducting awareness programmes through Kisan mela, said Dorjey.
Talking about the important role of Bhami Duniya Cooperative Societies (BDCS) in Ladakh in keeping a check on prices of essential commodities in the market, he said that this is a beneficial step in the service of a common man. Taking examples of other super markets at places like Srinagar & Jammu, Dorjey said that there are plans to up-grade these outlets by including other everyday items at discounted rates so that the villagers can shop and dine at one stop with ease before leaving for home.
Earlier, Deputy Registrar Co-operative Society Leh Sonam Norboo gave a power-point presentation detailing about the achievements in different sectors of Co-operative.
After the meeting, the Minister visited the All Changthang Pashmina Growers Cooperative Society Plant Leh, Cooperative Marketing Society Leh, Bhami Duniya Cooperative Society Leh and J&K State Cooperative Bank Leh.
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