Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah today launched the computerization project of Agriculture and Rural Development Banks (ARDBs) and Registrar of Cooperative Societies of all States and Union Territories in New Delhi.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Shah said, the computerization project of ARDBs aims at computerizing 1851 units located in 13 States and UTs and to link them with NABARD through a Common National Software. He said, this initiative of the Ministry of Cooperation will increase the operational efficiency, accountability and transparency in Agricultural and Rural Development Banks. Mr Shah said, the initiative also aims at reducing transaction costs, facilitate loan distribution to farmers and enable real time data access for better monitoring and assessment of schemes. He said, it will benefit small and marginal farmers connected with ARDBs for credit and related services through Primary Agriculture Credit Societies at the grassroots level.
The Minister said, computerization of offices of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies in all States and Union Territories will bring better efficiency, accountability and transparency.
He informed that an amount of 225 crore rupees will be spent for computerisation of the offices of the Agricultural and Rural Development Banks and Registrar of Cooperative Societies in all states and UTs.
Mr Shah said, after formation of Ministry of Cooperation there has been a big change in cooperative sector.
Minister of State for Cooperation B L Verma and Secretary Cooperation Gyanesh Kumar were present on the occasion.
More than 1200 participants attended today’s event including senior officials of states and union territories, secretaries of cooperative departments and Registrars of Cooperative Societies, Presidents of all State Cooperative ARDBs, representatives of Primary Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Banks and ARDB units.