The Ministry of Cooperation has made various efforts for the betterment, empowerment and income generation for women in the cooperative sector. The major initiative taken by the Ministry in this regard are as under:
1. The Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Act) 2002 has been amended to mandate requirement of women Directors in the Board of Multi-State Cooperative Societies. This will ensure representation of women in the Board of more than 1,550 Multi-State Cooperatives across the country.
2. Model Bye Laws for the Primary Agriculture Cooperative Credit Societies (PACS) has been prepared by the Ministry of Cooperation and adopted by the States/UTs across the country. It mandates requirement of women Directors in the Board of PACS. This will ensure representation of women and their decision making in more than 1 Lakh PACS.
3. Nandini Sahakar Scheme of National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) under Ministry of Cooperation is a financial assistance scheme for project formulation, hand- holding and capacity development of women cooperatives. NCDC has disbursed 5,714.88 Crore to Women Cooperatives benefitting more than 1.56 Crore women members.

Women empowerment