The fifth State Cooperative Development Committee meeting was held on March 6, 2026, at the Tashiling Secretariat conference hall in Gangtok, chaired by Chief Secretary R. Telang. The meeting — convened to coordinate and promote the development of cooperative societies across Sikkim — focused on strengthening the cooperative movement as a tool for rural development and economic revitalisation.
Principal Registrar-cum-Secretary of the Cooperation Department, Jabi Thapa, presented a detailed status report on the sector. She reported that Sikkim has 3,745 registered cooperative societies, of which 1,418 are functional, 2,082 are non-functional and 245 are in the process of closure, with a combined membership of 87,792.
Thapa reviewed Centrally Sponsored Schemes under the Ministry of Cooperation, including the computerisation of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), digitisation of the Office of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies, and the development of the National Cooperative Database. She highlighted plans to establish new PACS, as well as dairy and fisheries cooperatives, in Gram Panchayat Units that currently lack these institutions.
A major part of the discussion addressed efforts to transform PACS into vibrant economic entities by facilitating convergence with various government schemes and services. Progress in cooperative banking was also examined, with updates on the Sikkim State Cooperative Bank (SISCO) and the Citizen Urban Cooperative Bank noted as part of broader financial-strengthening measures.
Under the theme “Cooperation among Cooperatives,” Thapa outlined initiatives to broaden access to cooperative banking services, strengthen linkages with allied services, and promote membership of state cooperative societies in national-level cooperative institutions. She also briefed the committee on state measures connected to the White Revolution 2.0, aimed at boosting dairy productivity and allied value chains.
Thapa informed members about the formulation of the Sikkim State Cooperative Policy 2026 and described department actions to strengthen and revitalise societies statewide. She reviewed the Cooperative Farming initiative launched following directions from Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang during the International Year of Cooperatives programme and closed with an overview of dividends distributed by cooperatives for the 2024–25 financial year.
The meeting was attended by senior officials including Secretary of Agriculture Dr. S. Anbalagan; Secretary of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Dr. Sharman Rai; Secretary (Revenue), Finance Department Rajendra Sharma; and other concerned departmental leaders.
Original Source: https://www.sikkimexpress.com/news-details/chief-secretary-chairs-5th-state-cooperative-development-committee-meeting
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