Dimapur, June 4 (EMN): Minister of Agriculture and Cooperation, G Kaito Aye on Tuesday called upon the cooperative societies to judiciously utilise the loan money for their benefit and repay on time in order to pave the way for other beneficiaries to avail the same opportunity.
“Loans are meant to be loans, not Christmas gifts. If you do not pay back your loans, the project fails. You fail. We all fail,” Kaito said this at the distribution of market linkage vehicles and recovery bikes held at Cooperative Training Centre, Medziphema.
The distribution of market linkage transport vehicles and loan recovery bikes was initiated under the Integrated Cooperative Development Project (ICDP), a compact area development programme of the National Co-operative Development Corporation (NCDC).
Kaito expressed concern over non-repayment of loans, which according to him, is one of the major problems among the people. He stated that people who failed to pay back loans are not just hampering the chances of their own growth, but causing hurdles for many other deserving people.
The minister said that ICDP addresses key issues affecting co-operative societies like small business, lack of credit facilities from financial institutions, and lack of marketing linkages and avenues. He stated that INR 52.09 crore was earmarked for the project towards strengthening agricultural credit co-operatives, creation of infrastructure facilities such as go-downs, banking counters, transport vehicles, small processing units, cold storage, poultry, piggery, dairy units etc.
Kaito pointed out that market linkages, a vital factor in agriculture and allied sectors, have long been the handicap, adding that the hard work of the farmers goes to waste if the products cannot reach the market on time. To solve the problem, he said the department is providing transport vehicles and bikes for fast-track loan recovery drive for the selected cooperative societies.
He stated that ICDP was officially launched on July 20, 2018, and the first year of implementation started from September 1, 2018. He added that applications from co-operative societies were invited and after thorough inspections and examination, the District Level Coordination Committees under the chairmanship of the respective Deputy Commissioners recommended selected societies for financial assistance.
The minister said that the State Level Coordination Committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, in a meeting held on February 14, 2019, approved and sanctioned the proposals of the district committees. Altogether, 41 societies were selected from Kohima district, 57 from Tuensang, 45 from Kiphire, 31 from Longleng and 15 from Peren district, benefitting 189 persons. He however stated that payment process was delayed by two months due to imposition of the Model Code of Conduct for the Lok Sabha elections.
He stated that 5,670 farmers would be assisted under the ICD project during the first year. He appealed to all stakeholders of the project, including department officials involved, to take the chance to make a difference. He urged upon the cooperative societies to work with sincerity and dedication and ensure proper implementation of the project.
Kaito called upon the beneficiaries and department officials to ensure proper disbursement of loans and benefits, ensure transparency, ensure accountability and most important of all, ensure recovery. He stated that their success would be the success of Nagas as a people and Nagaland as a state.
At the event, the minister handed over nine transport vehicles and five recovery bikes for fast-track loan recovery drive to the ICDP Cell for the five districts of Kohima, Tuensang, Longleng, Kiphire and Peren. He informed that the second phase of the project would be implemented in the districts of Mokokchung, Phek, Wokha, Zunheboto and Dimapur etc.
Also speaking during the occasion, Regional Director of National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), Guwahati, Anjani Kumar Srivastava, stated that there are more schemes that could be availed under NCDC and assured his support and assistance in the days to come. He further urged the farmers to co-operate with the state government and take advantage of the financial assistance provided through NCDC.
