What happened

The Ministry of Cooperation informed the Rajya Sabha that Handicraft Cooperative Societies in Odisha, including societies in Puri district, are being supervised periodically by the Directorate of Handicrafts under the administrative control of the Handlooms, Textiles & Handicrafts Department, Odisha. The reply also said that an integrated RCS digital portal has been launched in Odisha and that the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) supports eligible artisan cooperative societies through financial assistance, training, and marketing support.

Background and earlier position

Odisha already has a sizeable cooperative presence in the district and state level cooperative system. The reply states that the National Cooperative Database records a large number of registered cooperative societies in Puri district, and that artisan cooperatives have been receiving support through exhibitions, fairs, and awareness camps. The broader policy setting is the cooperative-sector framework in which NCDC extends sector-specific products for agriculture-linked and livelihood-linked cooperatives, including artisan groups.

What changed now

The current emphasis is on linking artisan cooperatives with institutional finance, digital literacy, and market access. The Ministry of Cooperation stated that NCDC-backed schemes are available to eligible artisan cooperative societies across the country, including in Puri district, subject to prescribed guidelines and eligibility criteria. The reply also said that artisans are being sensitised to organise documents and prepare for onboarding into e-commerce platforms.

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