JUNE 9: The Additional Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Jammu Bal Krishan JKAS today convened a comprehensive review meeting of cooperative activities across the Jammu Division. The meeting was attended by the Joint Registrar (Audit) Cooperative Societies, Jammu, all Deputy Registrars (DRCS), District Audit Officers (DAOs), and Assistant Registrars (ARCS).
A detailed district-wise review was undertaken to assess the implementation of Centrally Sponsered Initiatives, UT-specific schemes, and ongoing activities under the International Year of Cooperatives. Officers were apprised of the importance of aligning local cooperative initiatives with the broader vision of the Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India.
In view of the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, Machail Yatra, and other major pilgrimage events, the Additional Registrar directed all districts to set up Cooperative Mandaps at high-footfall locations. These mandaps will serve as facilitation points for pilgrims and visitors, showcasing cooperative products and services, while enhancing the public image and visibility of the cooperative movement.
District officers were strictly instructed to ensure that e-PACS conduct dynamic day-end closures and complete their e-Audits within the stipulated timelines. These processes are critical for digital compliance and are being monitored centrally at the Ministry level. Delays in compliance were warned against, given the seriousness of such lapses.
The Additional Registrar also assigned district-wise targets to all Deputy Registrars for the establishment of additional food processing units during the Financial Year 2025–26. Simultaneously, instructions were issued to make existing food processing units fully functional without delay, ensuring optimal utilization of infrastructure and benefits to cooperative members.
In addition, DRs were directed to expedite identification of core produce in their respective areas for FPOs and to mobilize additional farmer members in close coordination with their assigned Cluster-Based Business Organizations (CBBOs). The importance of accurate identification and timely member enrollment was emphasized for accessing central support under the FPO formation scheme.
A major thrust of the meeting was also on increasing women’s participation in cooperatives, particularly in sectors other than dairy. Officers were encouraged to actively identify and support women-led cooperative ventures, recognizing their potential for inclusive and sustainable growth.
During the interaction, ARs and DRs also shared operational concerns, including the request to permit Common Service Centres (CSCs) functioning under cooperatives to offer services involving Aadhaar authentication and e-stamp generation. The Additional Registrar acknowledged the issue and stated that necessary steps would be explored to enable such services, which would enhance revenue generation and bring doorstep public services to rural populations.
The Deputy Registrar of Kishtwar was specifically instructed to initiate steps for establishing PACS in remote and spiritually significant areas like Machail, drawing inspiration from the Baba Jitto Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society (MPCS) model, which combines spiritual outreach with economic empowerment.
In conclusion, officers were urged to visit cooperative societies on ground, motivate local communities to join or form cooperatives, and spread awareness about new initiatives including PACS as FPOs, PACS as Food Processing Units, and other diversification measures. The Additional Registrar reiterated the transformative role of cooperatives in enabling economic self-reliance and collective bargaining capacity among rural populations.
