BICHOLIM
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said the government has begun streamlining all cooperative societies in the State to ensure they are financially secure.
Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Deendayal Super Market at Bordem-Bicholim, Sawant said the government is now keeping a close eye on all cooperative institutions in the State.
“There are some instances where some people with vested interests have been running around as ‘co-operative maharishis’ and have looted the money of the poor through financial institutions.”
“Crores of rupees were pocketed by some people on the pretext of paying double interest in one or two years. From now on, the government has begun keeping a close eye on all such institutions,” said Sawant.
The chief minister said cooperative banks such as the Mapusa Urban Cooperative Bank and the Madgaum Urban Cooperative Bank Limited went into losses due to poor planning and no sense of responsibility.
“Measures are now being take to ensure that no institution will go bankrupt in the future and the money invested by people will not be lost if it goes bankrupt. The new Cooperative Act has provided safety for investors in the cooperative field.”
The chief minister lauded the Deendayal Sanstha for working in various fields like co-operation, education, health and supermarkets.
Speaker Rajesh Patnekar said the co-operative sector should be kept away from politics and should be administered with an open heart.
Registrar of Co-operative Societies Arvind Khuntkar, Bicholim Municipal Council Chairperson Kundan Falari, councillors and officials of the Deendayal Sanstha were also present on the occasion.
The Deendayal Market at Bicholim has been set up by the Deendayal Multipurpose Society to mark the Deendayal Nagari Sahakari Patsanstha’s silver jubilee celebration.
The Deendayal Multipurpose Society President Vallabh Salkar said the Deendayal Sanstha was started in 1996 and now has 14 branches functioning in various parts of the State.
He said the organisation extended a helping hand during various natural disasters.
“Deendayal has started a business establishment with the aim of providing foodgrains and other items to people at reasonable prices. Various concessions have been given to the people through this supermarket. The supermarket will provide all items at reasonable prices,” said Salkar.
