Question : SICK DAIRY CO OPERATIVE UNIONS

(a) whether several dairy Co-operative Unions/State Milk Federations have been declared sick and are facing severe financial crunch at present;

(b) if so, the details of such Unions/Federations in each State/UT;

(c) whether the Union Government is providing any help to them to tide over their financial crisis;

(d) if so, the details of the assistance provided to them during the current year; and

(e) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Union Government to improve their financial condition ?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (DR. CHARAN DAS MAHANT)

(a)&(b) The Dairy Cooperatives are registered under the respective State Cooperative Societies Act. The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) reviews the financial condition of the Dairy Cooperative Unions/Federations which have been provided technical/financial assistance by NDDB. NDDB has informed that as per Annual Account received from 104 Cooperative Milk Unions/ Federations for the year 2011-12, 31 has accumulated net losses and the remaining 73 had accumulated profits. State-wise status of dairy cooperative unions/federations is given at Annexure.

(c),(d)&(e) The Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries is implementing a Central Sector Scheme ‘Assistance to Cooperatives’ with an objective to revitalize the sick dairy cooperative unions at the district level and Milk Federations at the State level. The scheme provides financial assistance for rehabilitating sick Dairy Cooperative Unions / State Milk Federations in order to make them viable. During the current financial year 2012-13 till date, an amount of Rs 613.50 lakh has been released to rehabilitate the sick Dairy Cooperative Unions /Federations.