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The new National Cooperative Policy is almost ready and will be announced in the next 2-3 months, a top cooperation ministry official said on Monday. "We are in the last stage of finalising the new national cooperative policy. The policy will be announced in the next 2-3 months," Cooperation Secretary Ashish Kumar Bhutani told reporters on the sidelines of an event. A 47-member committee, headed by former Union minister Suresh Prabhu, has prepared the draft policy after consultation with stakeholders. "Now, further discussions are being held to finalise the policy," he added. The Secretary also informed that around 65,000 functional Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) will be computerised by February next year. The New National Cooperation Policy aims to realise the vision of 'Sahakar se Samriddhi', promoting the cooperative-based economic development model, strengthening the cooperative movement in the country and deepening its reach up to the grassroots.
A 49-member committee headed by former minister Suresh Prabhu on Monday submitted the draft new national cooperation policy, along with key recommendations, to Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, who has shared further inputs based on which a revised draft will be prepared. The current policy on cooperation was formulated in 2002 and a need was felt to draft a new national policy to deal with the changed economic scenario. Therefore, a committee was formed on September 2, 2022, to draft a new policy to realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Sehkaar se Samriddhi'. "As per the guidance received from the Minister of Cooperation, the Committee will prepare a revised draft," the Cooperation Ministry said in a statement. The new Cooperation Policy is expected to be unveiled in July, after consulting all the stakeholders, including state governments, central ministries, departments, national cooperatives, etc, it said. The committee members briefed the Minister about the objectives
As Indian airlines seek to expand their fleet, former Union Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu has said the carriers should look at having a common services facility within the country for maintenance, repair and overhaul works as that will help reduce costs. With Air India placing orders for new aircraft after more than 17 years, he also said the airline should look at flying more on the profitable Gulf routes as well as restoring overseas "historical connections" which it used to operate earlier. Prabhu served as the Civil Aviation Minister from March 2018 to May 2019 and during his tenure also efforts were made to turnaround the loss-making Air India, which was finally taken over by the Tata Group in January 2022 under the government's disinvestment programme. "We should work on having international aviation hubs in India as well as look at having some sort of a common aviation services facility that can be shared by all airlines. Such a facility will help in reducing costs as