Cooperative Week Celebration 2026 Concludes with Focus on Strengthening Cooperative Movement
Gangtok, July 6 (IPR): The Department of Cooperation, Government of Sikkim, organised the closing ceremony of Cooperative Week Celebration 2026 at Sahakari Bhawan, Gangtok, today.
The week-long celebration, held from June 29 to July 6, was organised as part of the nationwide campaign "Sahkar Se Samriddhi – A National Campaign Through People's Participation" to commemorate the fifth Foundation Day of the Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India.
Minister for Cooperation, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Departments, Mr Arun Kumar Upreti, attended the programme as the Chief Guest in the presence of Advisor, Department of Cooperation, Mr Shyam Pradhan, and Chairperson, Department of Cooperation, Ms Bidya Biswakarma.
Addressing the gathering, Mr Arun Kumar Upreti commended the Department of Cooperation for successfully organising Cooperative Week Celebration 2026 and appreciated its continued efforts in strengthening the cooperative movement across the State.
The Minister emphasised the vital role of cooperative societies in improving farmers' livelihoods by facilitating the collection, aggregation, packaging and marketing of locally produced agricultural commodities. He observed that although the State had abundant agricultural produce, many farmers were unable to secure remunerative markets due to the lack of organised marketing channels. He said strengthening cooperative societies would help bridge this gap, reduce the State's dependence on vegetables sourced from outside the State and ensure that a greater share of consumers' spending benefited local farmers.
Encouraging cooperative societies to leverage various Government initiatives, the Minister highlighted schemes aimed at strengthening agricultural marketing infrastructure, promoting value addition and expanding market opportunities for local producers. Referring to the Vegetable Basket initiative of the Horticulture Department, he expressed confidence that greater participation by cooperative societies would create sustainable market linkages and improve farmers' incomes.
Mr Arun Kumar Upreti further stated that the Department's digital initiatives had made cooperative services more accessible, transparent and efficient, particularly benefiting people residing in remote areas by reducing the need to visit departmental offices for various services.
Referring to the products showcased during the programme, he said the Government was exploring the establishment of dedicated marketing spaces for products manufactured by cooperative societies and local producers to enhance market access and encourage rural entrepreneurship.
Congratulating the Department on the successful celebration of Cooperative Week, he thanked all cooperative societies, stakeholders, partner organisations and participants for their support and expressed confidence that their collective efforts would further strengthen the cooperative movement and contribute to the State's socio-economic development.
Addressing the gathering, PRCS-cum-Secretary, Department of Cooperation, Ms Jabi Thapa, highlighted the Ministry of Cooperation's vision of "Sahkar Se Samriddhi" (Prosperity through Cooperation) and stated that more than 140 initiatives had been launched over the past five years to strengthen the cooperative movement across the country. She added that Sikkim had actively implemented several of these initiatives.
Ms Jabi Thapa informed that, according to the National Cooperative Database, Sikkim currently has 3,750 registered cooperative societies, of which 1,398 are functional. She said the Department was undertaking the phased deregistration of inactive societies while focusing on building sustainable, efficient and quality cooperative institutions.
Highlighting the progress of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), she informed that Sikkim has 203 PACS, covering almost all Gram Panchayat Units across the State. She added that PACS had diversified their activities through consumer business, Common Service Centres, processing units, storage facilities, Jan Aushadhi Kendras and milk collection centres. She also informed that two PACS had recently been registered as Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs).
Speaking on digital transformation, Ms Thapa said Sikkim had successfully integrated all registered cooperative societies into the National Cooperative Database and had made significant progress in the computerisation of PACS and the Registrar of Cooperative Societies Office, making cooperative governance more efficient and transparent.
She further informed that cooperative societies from the State had joined national-level cooperative institutions in the organic, export and seed sectors, creating new opportunities for marketing and value addition. She added that the Department continued to strengthen cooperative institutions through regular training programmes, capacity-building initiatives and financial assistance from both the Central and State Governments.
Highlighting the achievements of the Sikkim Milk Union, she informed that the Union currently procures around 57,000 litres of milk daily and was exploring value-added dairy products to enhance farmers' income. She also noted that the State Government had been extending financial assistance for cooperative infrastructure, training and institutional strengthening, including the Best Performing PACS Award.
Outlining the Department's future roadmap, Ms Jabi Thapa said priority would be given to increasing cooperative membership, strengthening PACS and promoting agri-business and contract farming to build a vibrant and sustainable cooperative sector in the State.
In his address, Principal Director, Horticulture Department, Mr BL Dahal commended the Department of Cooperation for its continued efforts in strengthening the cooperative movement. He said cooperative societies had a crucial role in improving farmers' livelihoods by facilitating the collection, aggregation, packaging and marketing of locally produced agricultural commodities.
Mr BL Dahal observed that while Sikkim produced an abundance of vegetables, the absence of an organised marketing system often prevented farmers from receiving fair returns. He highlighted various Government initiatives, including the National Horticulture Board schemes, the Cluster Development Programme and the Vegetable Basket initiative, which aim to strengthen agricultural marketing and create sustainable market linkages for farmers. He urged cooperative societies to actively participate in these initiatives and work collectively towards promoting locally grown produce and strengthening Sikkim's rural economy.
Addressing the gathering, Executive Director, Sikkim Consumer Cooperative Society Ltd., Mr AK Bhandari, highlighted the Society's longstanding contribution to strengthening the cooperative movement in the State. He informed that the Society, established in 1955, is one of the oldest cooperative institutions in Sikkim and currently has 355 members.
Mr AK Bhandari appealed to eligible residents to enrol as members of the Society and actively participate in the cooperative movement. He said members were entitled to dividends, voting rights and opportunities to participate in the management and decision-making process of the Society. He added that strengthening membership would further reinforce the cooperative movement and enable the Society to provide improved services to its members.
In his address, Managing Director, DACS, Mr Dhiraj Pradhan, highlighted the Society's efforts in creating sustainable market linkages for farmers and promoting livelihood opportunities across the State. He said the Society had been working closely with farmers by facilitating the marketing of agricultural and allied products while supporting rural entrepreneurship.
Emphasising the importance of youth participation, Mr Dhiraj Pradhan encouraged young cooperators to motivate farmers in their respective areas to form and strengthen cooperative societies. He observed that while agricultural production in the State was encouraging, the lack of organised collection, aggregation and marketing continued to remain a major challenge. He stressed that cooperative societies could play a significant role in bridging this gap and ensuring better returns for farmers.
He further highlighted the Society's initiatives to diversify its business through value addition, hospitality and food processing while exploring new market opportunities for locally produced goods. He informed that the Society was also working towards establishing a frozen food processing facility with support from the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India, to strengthen market access for local producers and enhance farmers' income.
Earlier, the programme commenced with a welcome address delivered by PRCS-I, Department of Cooperation, Ms Karma Ongmu, followed by a cooperative song presented by the Department.
A comprehensive presentation on the activities undertaken during Cooperative Week Celebration 2026 was delivered by ARCS, Department of Cooperation, Mr Punol Lepcha.
The presentation highlighted the vision of "Sahkar Se Samriddhi" (Prosperity through Cooperation) and outlined the Ministry of Cooperation's key objectives of strengthening cooperative institutions, promoting people's participation, accelerating digital transformation and creating greater awareness of cooperative schemes and services. It also showcased the week-long thematic programmes organised from June 29 to July 6, including PACS Transformation Day, Krishak Samman Diwas, AI and Technology Day, Sahakar Samvad Diwas, Green Cooperative Day, Navin Peedhi Sahakari Diwas and the National Cooperative Mahotsav.
Mr Punol Lepcha also highlighted the various activities organised by the Department during the week, including district-level awareness programmes, panel discussions, tree plantation drives, video screenings and promotional van campaigns to strengthen the cooperative movement across the State.
The programme also featured the screening of documentaries showcasing the achievements of Makha MPCS and Tareythang MPCS.
Manager, Nandok Saramsa MPCS/PACS, Mr Amber Chettri, and President, Passingdong MPCS/PACS, Mr Loden Gyatso Lepcha, also shared their experiences and highlighted the role of cooperative societies in improving rural livelihoods and promoting community participation.
The Department also felicitated officers, officials and stakeholders in recognition of their valuable contributions towards strengthening the cooperative sector in the State.
The programme was attended by PRCS-I, Department of Cooperation, Ms Karma Ongmu, PRCS-II, Department of Cooperation, Ms Pema Ongmu, senior officers of the Department of Cooperation, officers from the Sikkim Milk Union, representatives of cooperative societies, cooperative leaders, stakeholders and other dignitaries.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by RCS-II, Department of Cooperation, Mr KP Sharma.
Report from DIO-GANGTOK