Nandini Sahakar Yojana

Context (PIB): The Minister of Cooperation recently shared information about the Nandini Sahakar Yojana.

• Objective: The scheme aims to support women’s cooperatives in engaging in business model-based activities within the framework of the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).
• Eligibility: To qualify, a cooperative society must have at least 50% of its primary members as women and must have been operational for a minimum of three months.
• Assistance Offered: The program provides credit linkage for infrastructure term loans and working capital. Additionally, subsidies or interest subventions are available from other government initiatives.
• Financial Assistance: There is no set minimum or maximum limit for financial support for projects led by women’s cooperatives.
• Interest Subvention: The scheme offers a 2% interest subvention on term loans for new and innovative activities and a 1% interest subvention on term loans for other activities.

National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)

• Overview: The NCDC is an apex statutory organization under the Ministry of Cooperation, established in 1963.
• Role: It is crucial in promoting and financing cooperative institutions across India.
• Key Initiatives:
  • Yuva Sahakar Scheme: Designed to encourage young entrepreneurs in the cooperative sector.
  • Sahakar Mitra Scheme: Aims to attract young professionals to the cooperative sector.