More inclusion of SC/ST members in cooperative sector demanded
Legislative Council member K. Shivakumar demanded increased participation and loan disbursement for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in India's cooperative sector, citing existing disparities. Cooperation Minister Lakshman Savadi assured the House that steps would be taken, while another member raised concerns about drought-related loan waivers for farmers.
Why it matters
This article highlights ongoing efforts to address social and economic inequality in India by advocating for greater inclusion and equitable access to financial opportunities for marginalized communities within the cooperative sector.
“There is no participation of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the cooperative sector, and the participation of these communities should be increased,” urged Legislative Council member K. Shivakumar.
Speaking in the Legislative Council on Tuesday, he appealed to the government to extend more loans and provide greater employment opportunities to people from SC/ST, backward class and minority communities in primary agricultural cooperative societies, District Central Co-operative (DCC) banks and other cooperative banks.
“Despite the implementation of reservations in the cooperative sector, people from SC/ST communities are being denied membership. Membership is not in proportion to the population of these communities or the extent of land they own,” he said.
Therefore, he said, the membership of farmers who own land should be increased using the Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) grants.
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