Commission to be set up for elections of cooperative societies in MP

Bhopal, Mar 9 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh Cooperative, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Gopal Bhargava today said in the Assembly that a commission will be constituted for elections of co-operative societies, while public distribution system (PDS) will be made more transparent.

Replying to the debate over grants for Co-operative, Food and Civil Supplies departments for 2006-07, Mr Bhargava said sugar factories, which were running in loss, are now reaping profits, as a result of financial aid provided to them.

Participating in the debate, Dr Govind Singh (Congress) said elections for cooperative societies were not taking place and the condition of Housing Boards were deteriorating continuously.

He said more than 10 cases pertaining to Housing Boards were pending EOW branches in the state.

Mr Durgalal Vijay and Mr Shankarlal Tiwari (both BJP) raised the issue of black marketing of kerosene meant for PDS besides sale of gas cylinders by non-license holders.

Mr Bhargava said the government had decided to implement recommendations of a task force -- headed by Prof Vaidyanathan -- for revival of short-term credit concept. Efforts are being made to revive Housing Boards and strengthen agricultural cooperative credit institutes besides filling up vacant posts in cooperative societies and banks.

He said farmers received more than Rs 15 lakh compensation this year under crop insurance scheme, while adequate provision has been made in the budget so that SC and ST farmers are not required to pay double the amount of agricultural loan.

The Minister said 26.15 lakh 'Kisan credit cards' had been issued this year.

He said 565 fair price shops had been set up this year, while 1.15 crore APL, 49.48 lakh BPL card holders and 15.24 lakh Antodaya Ann Yojana card holders were receiving sugar and kerosene from 20,178 fair price shops.

Mr Bhargava said 118 godowns will be built next year in order to increase storing capacity of fair price shops. A provision for providing 7,038 drums for storing 1,355 tonne kerosene had been made in the budget.

A provision of Rs 70 crore had been made this year for stregthening PDS, while computerisation will be done in order to bring transparency. Information on allotment, receipt and distribution will be received at headquarter level via Internet.

The Centre has been requested to provide arrangement for five litre kerosene per person as earlier.

He said the Centre had made a provision to include co-operative banks under the income-tax net but the state government urged to remove the provision, as it expected loss to the banks.

Later, the Assembly passed Rs 190.19 crore grants for Co-operative department and Rs 177.55 crore for Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection departments by a voice vote.

UNI AG-PS ARB RK2328