Ministry of Cooperation Report on Heritage Artisan Cooperatives Support
The Ministry of Cooperation provided detailed information about support mechanisms for heritage artisan cooperatives in India, with specific focus on Odisha state and Puri district. Based on information from the State of Odisha's Directorate of Handicrafts under the Handlooms, Textiles & Handicrafts Department, there are 756 registered cooperative societies in Puri district, with 17 functional Handicraft Cooperative Societies (HCSs) engaged in various handicrafts. Odisha has launched an integrated RCS digital portal for supervisory functions.
The National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) implements sector-specific schemes and financial products aligned with the needs of the cooperative sector, including artisan cooperatives across the country. As of June 30, 2026, NCDC has disbursed ₹3,352.03 crore for cooperative development in Odisha State, with ₹3.78 crore specifically disbursed in Puri district during the last five years (since April 1, 2021).
Key Support Measures for Artisan Cooperatives
NCDC provides financial assistance to eligible artisan cooperatives for infrastructure creation, value addition, processing, and marketing of artisan and handicraft products. The organization regularly conducts training and awareness programs for artisans to facilitate entrepreneurship development, marketing support, and improved access to institutional finance. Digital literacy is integrated as an essential component of all training and capacity-building interventions to facilitate digital onboarding and modern business practices.
Marketing assistance to handicraft artisans and HCS members is provided through exhibitions, fairs, and melas organized at district, state, and national levels. Artisans are sensitized on digital literacy and consolidation of required documents for onboarding into e-commerce platforms through various training programs and awareness camps.
NCDC Schemes and Financial Products
The Corporation provides financial assistance in the form of loans (both Term Loans and Investment Loans) and subsidy to cooperative societies, with loan components from NCDC's own funds and eligible subsidy dovetailed from other Central Sector Schemes. Assisted activities include marketing, processing, storage, cold chain, industrial activities, distribution of essential consumer articles, credit & service cooperatives, cooperative banking, agricultural services, district plan schemes, weaker section cooperatives, computerization of cooperatives, and promotional/developmental programs.
Focused products include Yuva Sahakar (Cooperative Enterprise Support and Innovation Scheme for new cooperatives with innovative ideas), Ayushman Sahakar (comprehensive healthcare coverage scheme), NAndini Sahakar (women's cooperative support scheme), Dairy Sahakar (cooperative dairy business framework), Digital Sahakar (digitally empowered cooperatives framework), Swayam Shakti Sahakar Yojna (financial assistance to Agricultural Credit Cooperatives for Women SHGs), Deergahavadhi Krishaak Punji Sahakar Yojna (long-term financial assistance for agricultural credit cooperatives), and Sahakar Innovation Scheme (grant assistance of up to ₹25 lakh for innovative cooperative projects).
Disbursement Details for Odisha (2021-2026)
According to the five-year disbursement data for Odisha: Marketing activities received ₹1.10 crore in 2026-27 (as of June 30, 2026), with previous years showing ₹0.63 crore (2021-22) and ₹0.40 crore (2024-25). Service Cooperatives received ₹3.02 crore (2021-22), ₹0.20 crore (2024-25), and ₹0.15 crore (2025-26). Dairy & Livestock received ₹0.30 crore (2023-24), ₹0.39 crore (2024-25), and ₹0.12 crore (2025-26).
FPOs received significant funding: ₹0.27 crore (2021-22), ₹1.14 crore (2022-23), ₹2.04 crore (2023-24), ₹1.95 crore (2024-25), ₹2.22 crore (2025-26), and ₹0.43 crore (2026-27 as of June 30, 2026). Fisheries received ₹0.15 crore (2021-22), ₹0.07 crore (2022-23), and ₹0.04 crore (2023-24), while Fisheries FPOs received ₹0.40 crore (2022-23), ₹0.87 crore (2023-24), ₹2.47 crore (2024-25), and ₹3.55 crore (2025-26). Computerization received ₹0.61 crore (2025-26), and Storage received ₹0.48 crore (2024-25) and ₹0.38 crore (2025-26).
Total annual disbursements show a growing trend: ₹4.07 crore (2021-22), ₹1.61 crore (2022-23), ₹3.25 crore (2023-24), ₹5.89 crore (2024-25), ₹7.03 crore (2025-26), and ₹1.53 crore (2026-27 as of June 30, 2026).