Co-operation Minister C N Balakrishnan on Wednesday told the Assembly that all short-term agricultural loans provided by cooperative banks would be made interest-free from year 2012-13.
Replying to the discussion on demand for grants for the Cooperation Department, he said that over 3,500 schoolcollege cooperative societies would be reconstituted to make them more studentfriendly.
A project would be formulated in association with the Education Department in this regard.
A small saving scheme for students would be implemented under the joint auspices of school cooperatives, district banks and service cooperatives banks.
The Minister said that as part of Onam, Ramzan and Vishu festivals, 25,000 festival fairs would organised under the cooperative sector.
Under the ‘Veettumuttathoru Triveni’ scheme, a mobile Triveni unit will be allotted in each constituency.
Three floating super markets will be launched in the Malabar region, the Minister said.
The Minister said that Consumerfed would open 100 Neethi stores.
Cooperative societies would also set up 400 Neethi medical stores.
Two medical warehouses would also be opened in Kannur and Palakkad.
Ten Neethi godowns, 20 Triveni godowns and 20 Nanma packing centres would also be opened.
The Consumerfed will also set up a 30,000-litre capacity mineral water plant.
Self-help groups under the leadership of Consumerfed will implement a ‘Grihasree’ door-delivery facility centred around Triveni supermarkets.
Triveni Institute of Pharmacy in Thrissur and Trivani Retail Management Institute in Idukki are the two new projects to be started this year.
Another project on the anvil is the Triveni Institute of Food Processing (TIFPRO) at Vadakkanchery.
For the formulation of new policies and evaluation of the progress in the cooperative sector, 7th Cooperative Congress will be organised.
An international co-operative exhibition will also be conducted, the Minister said.
Ashwas Nidhi for the members of the co-operative societies will be set up.
According to the 111th Constitutional amendment, Kerala Cooperative Act will be amended, he said.
A deposit guaranty Board will be set up to safeguard the interests of the depositors, he said.
The Minister said that the audit fee being collected from the cooperative societies would be reduced.
National Standards of Audit will be accepted in the cooperative sector.
Audit Manuel also will be revised, Balakrishnan said.