Over 550 Cooperatives Embrace Government e-Marketplace for Efficient Procurement

In a recent announcement to Parliament, Home Minister Amit Shah revealed that a total of 559 cooperative societies have successfully integrated into the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) as buyers. This development, as of November 15, marks a significant increase from the over 300 cooperatives on GeM recorded in August of the previous year.

Minister Shah elaborated on the phased implementation of onboarding cooperative societies as buyers on GeM, with the initial phase focusing on 618 cooperative societies and cooperative banks. These entities, identified based on turnover/deposits exceeding Rs 100 crore, along with possessing an 'A' grade Audit rating where applicable, have been prioritized for integration into the platform.

India boasts over 8.54 lakh registered cooperatives, representing a collective membership of 27 crore individuals. This vast network is now eligible to leverage the GeM platform for procurement purposes.

The decision to include cooperatives on GeM was officially approved by the Cabinet in June of the previous year, with the aim of fostering transparency within cooperative operations. Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur emphasized that this move would not only benefit cooperatives by providing access to the GeM marketplace but also offer GeM sellers a broader base of potential buyers.

Purchasing through GeM provides cooperatives the advantage of accessing goods and services from a pool of over 67 lakh vendors. This streamlines procurement processes, reduces administrative burdens, and ultimately enhances the credibility of cooperatives through increased transparency, as highlighted by Minister Shah.

To encourage cooperative societies to join GeM, a series of proactive measures have been taken. Firstly, outreach and awareness initiatives have been conducted through physical and online training sessions facilitated by GeM and the National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI). Additionally, dedicated help desks have been set up to provide onboarding support to cooperative societies.

Secondly, a state-wise list containing contact details of GeM and NCUI nodal officers has been shared with cooperative societies. This information serves as a resource for buyer registration, support, and training mechanisms/materials through the Registrar Cooperative Society (RCS).

Thirdly, RCSs of all states and Union Territories have issued advisories and conducted video conferences to encourage cooperatives to embrace the onboarding process, further solidifying the government's commitment to fostering cooperative participation in the GeM platform.