‘Heritage Artisan Cooperatives’
Odisha handicraft cooperative societies, National Cooperative Development Corporation support, and digital onboarding for artisan cooperatives
- The Directorate of Handicrafts supervises the functioning of Handicraft Cooperative Societies in Odisha, including societies in Puri district.
- The National Cooperative Development Corporation provides sector-specific cooperative support products for artisan cooperative societies across India.
- Odisha has launched an integrated Registrar of Cooperative Societies digital portal for cooperative administration.
- Artisans in Puri district are being sensitised for digital literacy and for document consolidation needed for onboarding into e-commerce platforms.
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
UPSC may frame the issue around how cooperative societies can improve market access, credit access, and digital inclusion for artisans, while also asking about the role of the National Cooperative Development Corporation, cooperative governance in the states, and the limits of scheme-based support without stronger market ecosystems.
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