Thiruvananthapuram | Kerala Minister M Liju on Saturday said the state government had sought greater support from central cooperative agencies to strengthen the cooperative sector.
He also said discussions were held on expanding de-addiction and rehabilitation initiatives under the Excise Department during his recent visit to New Delhi.
In a Facebook post, the state excise minister said he met a high-level delegation of the National Cooperative Development Corporation, led by Managing Director Pankaj Kumar Bansal, and National Cooperative Consumers' Federation Chairman Vishal Singh to discuss a range of issues concerning Kerala's cooperative movement.
Liju said he had requested the NCDC to extend more concessions and financial assistance to cooperative institutions in Kerala.
"The discussions also focused on expanding the NCDC's existing projects in the state and extending its support to additional sectors. We hope Kerala will secure greater participation in the corporation's flagship programmes," he said.
The minister said his talks with the NCCF centred on strengthening the role of cooperative institutions in agriculture.
"The discussions explored measures to ensure better market access for agricultural produce and the possibility of the NCCF procuring larger quantities of produce if cultivation is expanded," the minister said.
Liju said he met Union Revenue Department Joint Secretary Shankarlal Kumawat to discuss ways to strengthen the state's anti-drug campaign, 'Mayangilla Keralam', being implemented by the Excise Department.
He said Kerala has 14 Excise-run de-addiction centres and plans to expand the network to all 77 taluks.
"The discussions covered the rehabilitation of persons completing de-addiction treatment and coordination among the Revenue, Social Welfare and Home departments to strengthen the initiative," he said.
According to the minister, broader discussions on the programme will be held in Kerala in the coming days, with the meetings in New Delhi marking the beginning of the exercise.
