Sahakar Pragya Initiative - Development of Cooperative Sector

The Sahakar Pragya Initiative is an initiative to develop the country's cooperative sector by imparting information and skills to rural communities in India. The initiative is organised by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) with the support of the Haryana-based Laxmanrao Inamdar National Cooperative Research and Development Academy under the NCDC.

As a part of the initiative, the National Cooperative Development Corporation will train cooperative societies in rural regions through 45 new training modules. The National Cooperative Development Corporation is an organisation under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare.

Key Facts About the Sahakar Pragya Initiative

The Sahakar Pragya Initiative was launched on November 24th, 2020 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare. Key facts about the initiative are as follows:

• It was unveiled by Narendra Singh Tomar, the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare
• Farmers in primary cooperative societies will be trained under the programme's forty-five training modules
• The program will be carried out through a network of 18 Regional Training Centres
• The training capacity will be enhanced by the 18 Regional Training Centres
• Laxmanrao Inamdar National Cooperative Research and Development Academy has drawn up a plan to impart training to around 5000 farmers in cooperative societies

Aims of the Sahakar Pragya Initiative

The Sahakar Pragya Initiative is a move to strengthen the cooperative sector. Its aims are as follows:

• To help in capacity development in the cooperative sector in India
• To transfer knowledge, skills and organisational capacities to farmers through the new training modules
• To support farmers as a part of the Prime Minister’s vision of AtmaNirbhar Bharat where primary cooperative societies play an important role
• To assist farmers in becoming more self-reliant in economic reconstruction after COVID
• To equip the cooperative societies to incorporate professional business requirements of the modern market economy.

Importance of the Sahakar Pragya Initiative

The Sahakar Pragya Initiative is an important step, given the essential role that cooperatives play in India's social and economic structure.

• India has an extensive network of cooperative societies, which form an integral part of India's social organisations
• Cooperative societies protect farmers from exploitation by money-lenders, traders, buyers, and middlemen
• The initiative would help cooperatives in supporting farmers to reduce risks in agriculture and related sectors
• It would also be an effort to reach out to farmers through these cooperative groups as a vast number of farmers are a part of cooperatives
• The Sahakar Pragya Initiative would help in bridging the gap between rural communities and the demands of markets

Rural communities and farmers form an integral part of India's population. Farmers in rural areas face the risk of exploitation by unscrupulous money lenders and traders. Cooperatives are a way for them to come together in protecting their interests.

The Sahakar Pragya Initiative marks an important step to reaching out to these key organisational units that form the backbone of India's agricultural economy and rural society. By reaching out to cooperatives instead of just individual farmers, it has the potential to effectively communicate skills and knowledge with the chance of wider impact.

FAQs on Sahakar Pragya Initiative

Q.1. What is the Sahakar Pragya Initiative?

The Sahakar Pragya Initiative is an initiative to develop the country's cooperative sector by imparting knowledge and skills to rural communities in India.

Q.2. Which organisation is organising the Sahakar Pragya Initiative?

The National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) is organising the Sahakar Pragya Initiative with the support of the Laxmanrao Inamdar National Cooperative Research and Development Academy under the NCDC.

Q.3. Which Minister unveiled the Sahakar Pragya Initiative?

Narendra Singh Tomar, the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, unveiled the Sahakar Pragya Initiative.

Q.4. How many training modules are there under the Sahakar Pragya Initiative?

There are 45 training modules under the Sahakar Pragya Initiative.

Q.5. How many regional training centres are there to implement the Sahakar Pragya Initiative?

There are 18 Regional Training Centres to implement the Sahakar Pragya Initiative.