- By Kamakshi Bishnoi
- Fri, 04 Apr 2025 11:44 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
The recruitment process for 10,000 positions in cooperative banks will soon commence, with the Banking Personnel Selection Institute (IBPS) handling the selection process. State Minister of the Cooperative Department, JPS Rathore, made this announcement during a press conference on April 3.
Rathore highlighted significant growth in the sector, stating that the business of UP Cooperative Bank (UPCB) has increased by 105 per cent, while District Cooperative Banks (DCBs) have seen a 42.65 per cent rise. With cooperative banks now turning profitable, efforts are being made to enhance their technical infrastructure and expand the workforce.
Taking a dig at the Saifai family, Rathore pointed out that Etawah's District Cooperative Bank (DCB) remains the only loss-making bank in the state. He attributed past financial struggles in the cooperative sector to poor policies of previous governments, which hindered recruitment. However, under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's leadership, the sector has seen remarkable improvements over the past eight years. As a result, the government plans to recruit between 5,000 and 10,000 personnel, with the process likely to begin within the next six months.
To maintain transparency, IBPS will be responsible for hiring bank employees, while other recruitment agencies will oversee appointments for different categories. Rathore provided financial insights, noting that the total business of 50 DCBs in the state grew from Rs 28,349.14 crore in 2016-17 to Rs 40,442.84 crore in the last financial year.
Deposits increased from Rs 16,261.88 crore to Rs 24,942.84 crore, while NPA (Non-Performing Assets) dropped from 12.81 per cent to 5.22 per cent. The total profit of cooperative banks rose from Rs 70 crore to Rs 162 crore, with 49 banks now profitable, except for Etawah DCB, which remains under investigation for a major abstraction case from eight years ago.
When asked about the long-standing control of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav’s family over Etawah DCB, Rathore remarked that Badaun MP Aditya Yadav, who currently serves as the bank's chairman, should have addressed the issue.
The net worth of UPCB has surged from Rs 870 crore in 2016-17 to Rs 1,516.43 crore in 2024-25. Deposits have doubled, increasing from Rs 6,396.86 crore to Rs 13,116.72 crore, while loan disbursement grew from Rs 9,189.92 crore to Rs 23,061.51 crore. Overall business expanded from Rs 13,236.86 crore to Rs 27,188.97 crore, with NPA dropping from 5.70 per cent to 2.70 per cent and net profit soaring from Rs 32.82 crore to Rs 100.24 crore.
Under the Sahakar Se Samriddhi Yojana, all B-PACS (Primary Agricultural Credit Societies) are being transformed into multi purpose entities. Facilities such as Jan Aushadhi Kendras, Common Service Centers, and PM Kisan Samriddhi Kendras are being established within them. Additionally, 7,500 B-PACS are undergoing computerisation, which is expected to boost customer confidence and expand business.
To support these initiatives, the state government has provided an interest-free credit limit of Rs 10 lakh, leading to a Rs 5,000 crore turnover. Now, the Chief Minister has announced an increase in the credit limit to Rs 15 lakh, further strengthening the cooperative banking sector.
