The 72nd All India Cooperative Week was celebrated at the Andal Singaravelu Wedding Hall in Vengikal, Tiruvannamalai, where Public Works, Highways and Minor Ports Minister E. V. Velu delivered a special address and distributed welfare assistance worth Rs 23.42 crore to beneficiaries.
The Cooperative Week is being observed across the country from November 14 to 20 to mark the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. This year’s theme is “Cooperatives as tools for self-reliance.”
In his speech, Minister Velu highlighted the historical role of the cooperative movement and its contribution to social justice, economic development and community empowerment. He also detailed the achievements of cooperative societies functioning across Tiruvannamalai
district.
He noted that 796 cooperative societies are operating in the district and 7.89 lakh families benefit from 1,744 fair price shops. A total of 37,433 farmers received the jewel loan waiver amounting to Rs172.96 crore, while 10,568 women self-help groups benefited from a loan waiver worth Rs189 crore. Overall, loan waivers amounted to Rs361.91 crore.
Further, loans totalling Rs11,018.75 crore were disbursed across sectors including agriculture, livestock, industry, housing, differently-abled welfare and small
industries.
Thirty Chief Minister’s dispensaries are functioning in the district. Under the Chief Minister’s “Thayumanavar Yojana,” essential items were delivered directly to 82,000 families. A total of 3,298 beneficiaries received loans and assistance worth Rs23,42,10,000 at today’s event. This includes 60 women self-help groups covering 815 women, 1,580 farmers receiving crop loans, and 762 beneficiaries receiving Animal Husbandry KCC loans. Eighteen persons with disabilities, 65 medium-term loan applicants and 36 small business owners also received assistance. Several beneficiaries under categories such as widows, folk artists, women entrepreneurs, micro-enterprises and students received support. One beneficiary received loan assistance for value-added agricultural product procurement.
Deputy Speaker K. Pichandi, Tiruvannamalai District Collector K. Tharpagaraj, I.A.S., Member of Parliament C. N. Annadurai, MLAs M. P. Giri, P. S. T. Saravanan and O. Jyothi, Revenue Officer I. Rampradeepan and senior officials from various departments were present at the event.
