Current Context : Recently, the Minister of Cooperation informed the Lok Sabha about the Yuva Sahakar Scheme.

About Yuva Sahakar Scheme:

Objective : Encourages cooperative societies with new and innovative ideas, focusing on youth entrepreneurs.

Eligibility:

• Cooperative societies operational for a minimum of 3 months.
• Special incentives for cooperatives in the North-Eastern region, aspirational districts, women-led cooperatives, and those involving Scheduled Caste (SC)and Scheduled Tribe (ST)

Financial Features:

• Provides long-term loans (up to 5 years).
• Includes 2% interest subvention on applicable NCDC loan rates.
• Loans can be combined with subsidies from other Government of India schemes.
• Linked to a ₹1000 crore Cooperative Start-up and Innovation Fund managed by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).

Implementation:

• Run by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)across India.
• NCDC provides project-based funding tailored to the specific activities of cooperatives.

Mission Alignment:

Part of the Sahakar 22 Mission, which aims to double farmers’ income.